Over 200 million women and girls have undergone FGM in parts of Africa, the Middle East and Asia and can happen anytime between infancy and the age of 15 (World Health Organisation).
The stages of FGM can range from a small cut or removal of the clitoris, to the full removal of the external genitalia - leaving only a small hole for urine.
The practice can cause girls to bleed out, develop serious infections and can result in death.
The practice also bears no medical benefits despite people in communities where FGM happens being told that it is required for cleanliness, it's necessary to not cause the man pain during sex and to reduce risk during childbirth.
Many survivors have come forward to actively campaign to end FGM. Yet even in the UK, young girls are still at risk of being cut due to migrant communities.
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