Talk about it! Empowerment and Female Genital Mutilation_Cutting

12 When you are unsure if your physical complaints can be traced back to circumcision, doctors and counselling centres can help. (For further information proceed to pages 25 and 26) FGM_C is a tradition practiced in about 30 countries for different reasons. Reasons can be: � to ensure a woman‘s place in her community � to be treated with more respect within communities � the assumption that women will be faithful, honest, and pure which would lead to finding a husband faster � conformity to an idealised beauty image Sometimes tradition and superstitions are reasons, too. Please note, there is no religion that dictates or supports FGM_C. Women that underwent FGM_C also tell that in their opinion circumcision is used to hurt girls and women as well as to control and limit their sexuality. Some women that underwent circumcision never really thought about what happened to them. For them it is common practice, but it is prohibited in Germany, as it is against children’s and human rights. Therefore, FGM_C and imminent FGM_C is grounds for asylum. Since many years, affected women advocate for a prohibition on circumcising girls. They know from experience how harmful this tradition is. Even though not ever affected person suffers after being circumcised there are many severe health and psychological consequences: Some women have difficulties during urination or their period. Circumcision can cause infections as urine and menstrual blood cannot be excreted correctly (see picture on page 19). Pain during sexual intercourse, being unable to reach sexual satisfaction or recognise pleasure as such, are possible consequences, too. Female Genital Mutilation_Cutting (FGM_C)