COVID-19 and Female Genital Mutilation

It is estimated that every 11 seconds, one girl is cut. Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting is performed for non medical reasons. The World Health Organisation describes FGM/C as "the total or partial removal of female genital organs for non-medical reasons". The WHO estimates that more than 200 million females have undergone FGM/C and every year 3 million girls are exposed to the risk of undergoing FGM/C. There are four types of FGM; type I and II are the most prevalent, but a wide variation exists within different countries and communities. The types of FGM are associated with severe health risk, and the risks increase with the increasing severity of the procedure.

The Session will discuss the meaning of FGM, the different types of FGM, health implications, reasons why it is performed, the global extent to which it is practised today and the impact of Covid 19 on FGM.

About Scarlet Udaan

Scarlet Udaan hopes to bring awareness on Female Genital Mutilation and the impact it has on the lives of females belonging to different communities all around the world. FGM has become a global concern, as the practise is concentrated in Western, Eastern and North Eastern Regions of Africa, some countries in the Middle East, North America, Europe and Asia.Together, we can End Female Genital Mutilation.

Global Founder and Director, Sanya Sharma

Sanya Sharma is the Global Founder of Scarlet Udaan, an organisation which aims at raising awareness on Female Genital Mutilation. She is currently going into her second year studying law at Durham University and has worked with intellectual and disability awareness organisations in India for several years. One of her awareness initiatives on Autism also earned her recognition from the Government of Australia. At university, she has been involved in a Pro Bono Project which raises awareness on honour based violence, forced marriages and female genital mutilation. She worked with different charities as a Disability Awareness Officer during her first year with Duck Charities. Sanya hope's that Scarlet Udaan, as the name suggests, will pave the way for hope for a world which symbolises the freedom and limitless possibilities for women. She started the organisation as, Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting is a global concern, it is important for us to Stand Up to FGM/C and raise awareness about the implications of FGM/C.