A general term encompassing three types of excision of the external female genitalia - Sunna, clitoridectomy, and infibulation. It is associated with severe health risks and has been declared illegal in many places, but continues to be widely practiced in a number of countries, particularly in Africa.
    

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Two girls with their arms round each other in front of playing children: campaign against female circumcision in Kenya. Colour lithograph after E.K. Migwi for the Family Planning Association of Kenya, 1997.

A group of people hold a placard up announding 'Stop female circumcision' in Kenya. Colour lithograph by Family Planning Association of Kenya, May 1998.

A white chart containing Arabic text about female genital mutilation in Sudan. Colour lithograph by Ahfad Reproductive Health Centre, ca. 1999.

A woman caught in a spider web: female genital mutilation in Sudan. Colour lithograph by Ahfad Reproductive Health Centre, ca. 1999.

A woman shielding her face with her hand from a razor dripping with blood: female genital mutilation in Sudan. Colour lithograph by Ahfad Reproductive Health Centre, ca. 1999.

A man addresses an elderly woman as a girl approaches: dangers of circumcision to girls in Kenya. Colour lithograph by J. Ouma for Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organisation, 1998.

Circumcision of women : a strategy for eradication / Olayinka Koso-Thomas.

Against the mutilation of women : the struggle to end unnecessary suffering / by Lilian Passmore Sanderson.

Prisoners of ritual : an odyssey into female genital circumcision in Africa / Hanny Lightfoot-Klein.

Female genital excision, Ubangi Shari: the operation being performed on an Mbakwa-Manja girl. Photograph by A.M. Vergiat.

Circumcision, Female

Images

Catalogue

A man addresses an elderly woman as a girl approaches: dangers of circumcision to girls in Kenya. Colour lithograph by J. Ouma for Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organisation, 1998.

Circumcision of women : a strategy for eradication / Olayinka Koso-Thomas.

Against the mutilation of women : the struggle to end unnecessary suffering / by Lilian Passmore Sanderson.

Prisoners of ritual : an odyssey into female genital circumcision in Africa / Hanny Lightfoot-Klein.

Female genital excision, Ubangi Shari: the operation being performed on an Mbakwa-Manja girl. Photograph by A.M. Vergiat.