Female circumcision, also known as female genital mutilation, or female genital mutilation is a custom that has caused controversy among many people belonging to other cultures not accustomed to this practice. At the heart of this argument is a series of debates around whether culture and tradition conflict with human rights over whether or not this practice should be permitted. Advocates of the practice rely on the prevalence, perceptions and reasons for practicing FGM to combat what they see as a human rights issue. Female genital mutilation is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as “any procedure involving the partial or total removal of female genital mutilation. external female genitalia or any other injury to the female genitalia for non-medical reasons". This practice is more prevalent in countries with limited health care facilities and limited resources for health research. Current estimates reveal that approximately 100 to 140 million African women have undergone some form of FGM worldwide. Each year, an additional 3 million people are at risk in Africa alone due to. of immigration, but they are more widespread on the African continent The majority of cases are recorded in a group of twenty-eight African countries In countries such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan. rates reach up to ninety-eight women. Its prevalence has been estimated at 61% in Lower Egypt and 97% in Upper Egypt (El-Gibaly).The reasons for the mutilation process of gentile women lie. in a myriad of cultural, social and religious issues. Social acceptance is the most frequently cited reason to support the continuation of this practice, as many women feel social pressure to conform to traditional African practices...... middle of paper ...... a followed up with a public statement, endorsed by 500 doctors, declaring themselves opposed to repeal attempts. The UNICEF-European Union program on FGM/C, launched in 2008, has ended. During this period, 17,772 families of girls at risk committed to abandoning FGM. (UNICEF) Current reports appear to indicate a decreasing popularity of FGM in Upper Egypt (El-Gibaly). demonstrating that the reform process is slowing, FGM has become a highly politicized issue in Egypt, reflecting a range of political agendas on the status of women and feminist issues. Human rights advocates and medical professionals are fighting for Africans to abandon their traditional customs of FGM and realize the harm they inflict on their women. Statistics show that this practice is in decline, but it will continue until Egyptians begin to think as a people of their own accord..