Type IV
References
Court cases concerning type IV FGM, UK & Australia (members’ contributions)
Type IV & FGM Court cases concerning type IV FGM, UK & Australia (members’ contributions) Two members, from the United Kingdom and Australia, shared information on ongoing trials concerning the identification of possible FGM type IV in a girl child. La...
Harmful practices in the MENA region (member’s contribution)
Type IV & FGM Harmful practices in the MENA region (member’s contribution) Isma Benboulerbah, Project Officer at the European Network END FGM, shared her knowledge of procedures aimed at modifying women’s genitalia and controlling their sexuality in the...
Aesthetical genital surgeries and procedures
Type IV & FGM Aesthetical genital surgeries and procedures Aesthetic or cosmetic genital surgeries and procedures include a wide variety of practices performed for aesthetic or sexual reasons, including labioplasty (inner labia surgery), labia majora...
Labia elongation (not included in WHO’s classification)
Type IV & FGM Labia elongation (not included in WHO's classification) What, Where, Why? The “labia minora” (inner lips) are the folds of skin on either side of the vulva. Their size varies greatly from woman to woman, so there is no “normal” labial length....
Other forms of Type IV FGM
Type IV & FGM Other forms of Type IV FGM The definition of type IV has been modified in the new typology, published in 2007. Some forms are no longer found in the WHO definition of FGM type 4. It was decided to focus on “cuts” because of their obvious...
Cutting in the vaginal opening to “remove warts” (southieute) in Senegal
Type IV & FGM Cutting in the vaginal opening to "remove warts" (southieute) in Senegal What, Where, Why? An exploratory study by Senegalese sociologist Fatou Kebe is currently examining a practice of cutting women’s vaginal openings, justified by the...
Vaginal incisions, scraping, hymenotomies Niger & Nigeria
Type IV & FGM Vaginal incisions, scraping, hymenotomies Niger & Nigeria What, Where, Why? Hymenotomies are incisions made to the hymen. In some communities, they are performed on girls for non-medical reasons. The practice should not be confused with...
Genital Piercing
Type IV & FGM Genital Piercing What, Where, Why ? Piercing can be defined as “an opening in any part of the body through which jewellery can be worn”. Among the most common forms of female genital piercing is the clitoral cap, of which there are different...
Pricking
Type IV & FGM Pricking What, Where, Why? The piercing the clitoris or surrounding tissue, pricking, is a procedure in which the skin is pricked with a sharp object. Blood may flow but no tissue is removed and no stitching is done. Pricking is practiced in...