According to the Unicef report: More than 230 million women suffer genital mutilation. Many are affected by the brutal procedure before their fifth birthday.
There are 80 million cases in Asian countries and six million in the Middle East. To fully combat the practice, heads of state and government must redouble their efforts to end discrimination and inequality between the sexes, says UNICEF. The practice violates the human rights of girls and women and can cause lasting physical and psychological damage, the report says.