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Asylum plea rejected

Mischa Wilmers, Northern England / seAugust 31, 2013

After watching one daughter die from female genital mutilation, one woman is doing everything in her power to protect her other daughter from the threat. It may not be enough.

https://p.dw.com/p/19ZDN

Female genital mutilation, or FGM, is widely practiced in African countries. The surgeries to remove parts of the external female genital organs have no health benefits, but can cause a long list of problems including hemorrhaging, infections and extreme pain, even death.

The practice has deep cultural roots, those who practice FGM believe it helps maintain women's chastity before marriage and increase male sexual pleasure. It is also closely tied to family honor.

The World Health Organization estimates that about 140 million girls and women worldwide are currently living with the consequences of FGM.

DW met a woman from Nigeria who is determined for her daughter not to become one of them.