Where is FGM happening?
FGM crosses religious, ethnic, and cultural lines and is performed in many countries around the world. Though the majority of cases occur in Africa, FGM is common in some communities in Asia and the Middle East. Female genital mutilation is not just a problem in other countries. Despite federal and state laws criminalizing FGM, girls go through the procedure right here in the United States. Sometimes, families pay to bring a traditional cutter here from overseas. And in other cases, young girls are sent to their parents’ countries of origin to undergo the procedure during a vacation.
