“Even in Germany, girls are at risk of having their genitalia mutilated either secretly in this country or abroad. They are often small girls whose external genitalia are partially or totally removed with knives or shards of glass without any kind of anaesthetic, thus exposing them to unbearable pain. All that remains is a sewn-up wound with a small opening for bodily fluids: many women and girls bleed to death during this barbarous procedure or die later from tetanus or during childbirth.

Female genital mutilation is a serious human rights violation. The victims are subjected to pain and suffering all their lives. It not only violates the right to physical and mental integrity; it is a misogynous practice, which serves to control and degrade women and girls.

To save future generations from this suffering, we have to work in the countries concerned, as well as in Germany, to end this misogynous and illegal practice. We will only succeed by protecting women and girls at risk and, at the same time, by encouraging and helping parents, doctors and the guardians of tradition, for example dignitaries and the authorities, to break down traditional structures and to combat the practice of genital mutilation.”