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Agencies target female mutilation | Agencies target female mutilation |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A range of United Nations agencies are calling for the practice of female genital mutilation to be ended within the space of a generation. | A range of United Nations agencies are calling for the practice of female genital mutilation to be ended within the space of a generation. |
An estimated three million girls a year are thought to be at risk from this practice, many of them in Africa. | An estimated three million girls a year are thought to be at risk from this practice, many of them in Africa. |
The practice of cutting off the clitoris of a young girl - and often more - is deeply rooted in some cultures. | |
Ten UN agencies want a major reduction in the tradition by 2015. | Ten UN agencies want a major reduction in the tradition by 2015. |
The practice is seen in some countries as a way to ensure virginity and to make a woman marriageable. | The practice is seen in some countries as a way to ensure virginity and to make a woman marriageable. |
Yet it also leads to bleeding, shock, infections and a higher rate of death for the women's new-born babies, say the UN groups. | Yet it also leads to bleeding, shock, infections and a higher rate of death for the women's new-born babies, say the UN groups. |
Communities urged | Communities urged |
Up to 140 million women are thought to have undergone this procedure in 28 countries in Africa, and a few in Asia and the Middle East. | Up to 140 million women are thought to have undergone this procedure in 28 countries in Africa, and a few in Asia and the Middle East. |
It is also happening to girls and women who have left their original countries and settled in the West. | It is also happening to girls and women who have left their original countries and settled in the West. |
The UN agencies say traditions are often stronger than law and legal action by itself is not enough to tackle this. | The UN agencies say traditions are often stronger than law and legal action by itself is not enough to tackle this. |
Change must come from within communities, they say, citing the example of West Africa, where villages have joined together to make pledges to abandon this practice. | Change must come from within communities, they say, citing the example of West Africa, where villages have joined together to make pledges to abandon this practice. |
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