FBI warns against growing amount of female genital mutilation in United States

'A lot of our efforts focus on increasing community awareness.'

Despite female genital mutilation (FGM) becoming illegal in the United States in 1996, over 500,000 women and girls remain at risk of undergoing the barbaric procedure.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), FGM involves the partial or total removal of a female's genitalia in a horrific act that yields absolutely no health benefits.

In countries such as Africa or the Middle East, young girls are often shamed into undergoing the surgery - which is done with razor blades and without anesthesia - and told it is for their benefit.

Citing a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study, the FBI reported approximately 513,000 girls and women in the US who were reported at risk of FGM in 2012.

Nearly one-third of that number is composed of girls under the age of 18-years-old.

Blame for the continued support of FGM fell to the influx of immigrants who continue the inhumane practice. To combat the horrific mutilations, the FBI announced it would team up with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to eradicate the mutilation of female genitals.

Special Agent Kerry Sparks, who works within the FBI's International Human Rights Unit (IHRU), explained: "We believe some of it is being conducted by medical practitioners-physicians, nurses, midwives-and some by female elders within the communities who have the distinction of being what is called a cutter."

The United Nations recently released a statement, in which they combated the practice, which many claim is rooted in cultural beliefs and traditions: "It reflects deep-rooted inequality between the sexes and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against women and girls."

When US President Barack Obama traveled to Kenya last year, he stated: "There's no excuse for sexual assault or domestic violence, there's no reason that young girls should suffer genital mutilation, there's no place in a civilized society for the early or forced marriage of children. These traditions may go back centuries; they have no place in the 21st century."

Thomas Bishop, the chief of the IHRU, addressed concerns of the mutilations taking place within the United States and the general population's ignorance of the federal law banning it.

"A lot of our efforts focus on increasing community awareness," Bishop described. "We want people to know that the FBI is committed to preventing FGM within the United States. The FBI has asked that anyone with information regarding the assistance or practice of FGM submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov.

---

The California Network is the Next Wave in delivery of information and entertainment on pop culture, social trends, lifestyle, entertainment, news, politics and economics. We are hyper-focused on one audience, YOU, the connected generation. JOIN US AS WE REDEFINE AND REVOLUTIONIZE THE EVER-CHANGING MEDIA LANDSCAPE.