Female Genital Mutilation:
A violation of rights with no medical justification
Female genital mutilation (FGM) harms girls' bodies, dims their futures and endangers their lives.
Largely perpetrated against girls aged 10 - 15, FGM is rooted in gender inequality and power imbalances. It involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia or other injury to female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
Most communities that practice FGM in Kenya view it as a cultural right of passage that symbolizes a girl has become a woman and is ready for marriage. It is highly correlated with other human rights violations including child marriage and prohibiting a girl's education.
​
These combined practices stop a girl's future before it begins.
In Kenya, 21% of women aged 15–49 have been subjected to FGM
Effectively eliminating FGM requires a comprehensive, rights-based strategy
that reduces gender discrimination; improves social justice and human rights; focuses on community development & empowerment; and improves literacy among women and girls.
​
Learn more about how Kenya Works is doing just that. ​