Alternatives to female genital mutilation

It's not just production processes, brands, entertainment, or violence that have become globalized. Harmful traditional practices that were once localized continue to be practiced in clandestinity in areas where they are forbidden. Such is the case of female genital mutilation, which has been performed on around 130 million women worldwide. Case in point, Catalonia, a territory in NE Spain, home to one of the largest Gambian communities in Europe. 3,600 women are presumed to have been victims either in underground ceremonies or in the course of "vacations" back home.

Public Health scientist Adriana Kaplan of Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona has been working with Gambian communities towards the establishment of alternative, non-harmful initiation ceremonies for girls. There's been a significant breakthrough now that the Gambian government has accepted to take on Kaplan's project into a National Program.

More information on the science news page Eurekalert.