Female Genital Cutting: Where to Get Help
For women in communities who face FGC, there's help
—June 14, 2010 -- Female genital cutting (FGC) encompasses all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons, according to the World Health Organization. While the procedure seems like a tribal tradition undergone on other countries, many young women in the U.S. have undergone FGC.
For many girls who may have already undergone FGC or who are facing community pressure to undergo the procedure, there's help. Here are a few places to turn:
Equality Now: is an international human rights organization that advocates for the social welfare of girls and women.
Sanctuary for Families is a non-profit organization based in New York that offers help for women seeking assistance regarding FGC.
American Academy of Pediatrics is an expert-based organization that offers medical information and policy statements on children's health, including young girls.
UNICEF, a part of the United Nations, advocates for children's rights and protection worldwide.
Tostan is a nongovernmental organization dedicated to preserving African women's rights and to empowering African communities to abandon FGC.
Brigham and Women's Hospital: African Women's Health Center is a clinic committed to improving the health of refugee and immigrant women who have undergone FGC.