(Brussels Times) More than 35,000 women and girls living in Belgium are estimated to be circumcised or at risk of female genital mutilation (FGM), which is a human rights violation, a recent study has found.
At least 200 million girls and women in the world have undergone some form of FGM, and while most of them still live in countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, it is wrong to assume this is not a problem that concerns western countries.
“The summer holidays start in a few days, a critical time for women and girls at risk of genital mutilation to leave for their home countries. These unacceptable practices are terribly harmful both physically and mentally,” Sarah Schlitz, state secretary for gender equality, equal opportunities and diversity, said.
