If Africa, with 29 countries, leads this illegal and violent ranking of female genital mutilation, the practice also takes place in Europe, Australia, Canada, the United States and Italy. The World Health Organization estimates that more than 200 million women have undergone genital mutilation, at risk 3 million girls each year. Most are between 14 and 15 years old but in some cases less than a year old. It is a practice, explains UNICEF, which goes from incision to the removal, partial or total, of the external female genitalia up to infibulation, an operation to keep the woman illegal. The reasons are social, cultural, religious but also economic, well paid. Girls, girls and women who suffer them have to deal with serious and irreversible risksfor their health, as well as serious psychological consequences. The mutilationsare essentially carried out by women: traditional midwives or real midwives.

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A woman with her children in a center for displaced people

Female genital mutilation is practiced in 29 African countries with a percentage of 90%. In Eritrea, Mali and Yemen, girls less than one year old are operated. Female organ mutilation also occurs in Europe, Australia, Canada, the United States and Italy, the effect of immigration. Amref in the "Focus on Africa" estimates that in our country there are about 60/80,000 women and girls at risk. A number that does not take into account the submerged. The humanitarian organization recalls the Italian law of 9 January 2006 n.7 which provides for the prevention and prohibition of female genital mutilation practices, anyone who practices infibulation is punished with imprisonment from 4 to 12 years, penalty increased by 1/3 if the mutilation is carried out on a minor, and in all cases where it is performed for economic purposes.

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Foreign women in Italy

According to Amref, however, there is still a lack of an integrated strategy capable of involving the regions. Among its projects are to carry out training courses on female genital mutilation and on international protection legislation. European asylum law and Italian law establish that international protection is admissible for women who have a well-founded fear of being persecuted or feel at risk.

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Foreign women in Italy