By: Jessica Neuwirth | Special for CNN |
(CNN) Three countries with the highest prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM) – Sierra Leone, Mali and Sudan – have yet to ban it.
The harmful practice which violates human rights is done intentionally to alter and cause injury to a female’s genital organ for non-medical reasons.
It is a form of subjugation, and it has affected over 200 million women and girls around the world.
But unlike many other forms of violence and discrimination, FGM is one where great progress has been made over the past few decades.
It has now been outlawed in 26 out of the 29 African countries on the continent in which it is centered.
In January, Liberia was the latest country to introduce a ban – albeit for only one year and girls under 18.
I hope that this ban will be made permanent and strengthened by the new president, George Weah, so that it can be outlawed for all Liberian women.
Nigerian Facebook user posts graphic photos of female circumcision
Nigerian Facebook user posts graphic photos of female circumcision
Liberia follows the positive momentum of 2015 when FGM was banned in both Nigeria and The Gambia.
Source: CNN
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