female genital mutilation

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female genital mutilation (countable and uncountable, plural female genital mutilations)

1. The complete amputation or partial cutting of the external female genitalia. [from 20th c.]
2. Any mutilation of the female genitals done for non-medical reasons, such as the infliction of abrasion, burns (chemical or cauterizing), or cuts or slits, or amputation or piercing. [from 21st c.]

• FGM

• genital mutilation

• female genital cutting (FGC)
• female circumcision

• male genital mutilation

• Eliminating Female Genital Mutilation, a 1995 report by the WHO:

  The WHO/UNICEF/UNFPA Joint Statement classified female genital mutilation into four types [...]

  Type IV: All other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, for example: pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterization.

  [...]

  Insertion of harmful substances can be defined as a form of genital mutilation [...]