The controversy

Rahmat Mohammad quotes Alice Walker: "Female genital mutilation is torture, not a culture."

She believes that FGM has entered the human rights arena: "It is an oppression of the girl-child, eroding all the dignity the infant has."

One girl's testimony :'It was very painful' (0'19')

International condemnation of the practice has heightened. Amnesty believes that female genital mutilation inflicts severe pain and suffering. Evidence suggests that the procedure is usually performed without anaesthesia using implements such as unsanitised knives, sharp stones, broken glass and scissors.

The physical effects of FGM are usually shock, haemorrhaging, urinary and menstrual retention, pain and even death. The psychological effects are immeasurable.

FGM was slow to reach the international human rights agenda because violence against females in the home or community was considered a private issue and therefore not a credible human rights concern.

There were also fears that intervention by western countries in the name of human rights would be perceived as an attack on cultural traditions.

Fatima taking a stance against the practice

Education and attitudes are beginning to change as in the case of Fatima Gearma, a Somali woman. More than 20 years ago she refused to circumcise her daughters, risking the disapproval of both her family and her community.

"Some people think I did wrong for my daughters in not circumcising them. I thought it was an advantage for them. As I see it these are my children and I do what is best for them".

One girl's testimony :'This cycle of tradition should be broken' (0'25')

Rahmat Mohammed believes the West "should assist these children and mothers and give them voices". She detests culture being used as an excuse for complacency.

In Mali, the Asompt organisation - the majority of which are women - is opposed to "harmful traditional practices". It believes this practice will end when African women want it to.