Female Genital Mutilation/ Cutting. Demographic Household Survey Brochures

Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) of any type has been internationally recognised as a harmful practice. It violates several human rights principles, norms and standards, including equality and non-discrimination on the basis of sex, the right to life (when the procedure results in death), and the right to be free from torture or cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment. Efforts to eradicate the practice of FGM/C in Egypt go back to the 1920s and were voiced by Egyptian physicians, religious leaders and intellectuals throughout the twentieth century. These efforts gained momentum during the 1970s and 1980s with a growing number of individuals and NGOs working towards addressing this issue. In 1994 these endeavours were harmonised in a concerted and effective manner with the establishment of the “Egyptian Task Force against FGM/C”.