Terre des Femmes, a women’s rights organization, has warned that the cruel practice of female genital mutilation is spreading across Europe, owing in part to global migration.
According to the rights group, more than 100,000 women and girls in Germany have had their genitals mutilated, with over 17,000 girls potentially at risk.
“We therefore want to work with partner organizations to raise awareness of female genital mutilation,” said Edell Otieno-Okoth, an expert at the children’s rights organization Plan International.
She stated that there are dozens of counseling services across Germany that provide assistance to affected families, but it is also critical to raise awareness among medical and social professionals, such as midwives, pediatricians, and social workers, about the risks and how to help those affected.
“The topic of female genital mutilation must be included in the curriculum for all health and social care professionals,” she said.
For 20 years, Plan International has campaigned against female genital mutilation in several African countries, including Egypt, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, and Sierra Leone.