The WHO Regional Office recently produced a leaflet on the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM). The leaflet provides a historical and regional background to the practice and describes the health impacts and immediate and long-term consequences. Many international and national organizations and agencies, both governmental and nongovernmental, have set up programmes to halt the practice of FGM.
FGM is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women. It reflects deep-rooted inequality between the sexes, and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against women. It is nearly always carried out on minors and is a violation of the rights of children. The practice also violates a person’s rights to health, security and physical integrity, the right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and the right to life when the procedure results in death.
The leaflet can be accessed from the following link.
Health education: theoretical concepts, effective strategies and core competencies [pdf 1.04Mb]
Presentation by Professor K Srinath Reddy, President, World Heart Foundation, on noncommunicable diseases in primary health care