ProblemFemale genital mutilation (FGM) is the cutting and total or partial removal of the external genitalia, and takes different forms in different countries. At least 2 million girls every year—6,000 each day—are at risk of suffering FGM. The practice, generally done without anesthetic, may have lifelong health consequences including chronic infection, severe pain during urination, menstruation, sexual intercourse, and childbirth, psychological trauma, and death. The Gift Your gift will enable Equality Now to produce and distribute fourteen copies of Awaken, our twice-yearly bulletin on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) that is distributed free of charge to grassroots organizations and member of practicing communities. Awaken is printed in English, French and Arabic. Each issue of Awaken presents updates by country on the efforts and challenges faced by our grantees and others working and is an important tool in the work to end FGM.
