There are almost 3,800 women living in Ireland with the consequences of female genital mutilation (FGM), an increase of 46% since 2008, figures have shown.

FGM can include the partial or full removal of the clitoris, a narrowing of the vaginal opening and other non-medical procedures. It is normally inflicted on girls aged between four and 10 and is most commonly practiced in western, eastern and north-eastern parts of Africa.

It is usually carried out for cultural and social reasons and around 140 million females have been subjected to it.

According to AkiDwA, a national network of migrant women living in Ireland, an estimated 6,000 females worldwide are subjected to FGM every day. The organisation has been working to highlight this issue in Ireland since 2001, particularly among healthcare professionals.

Last December, the second edition of FGM: Information for Healthcare Professionals Working in Ireland was released and this has raised more awareness. However AkiDwA warned that specialised health and counselling services for females who have undergone FGM is still not adequate.

And while FGM was outlawed here as a result of the Criminal Justice (Female Genital Mutilation) Act 2012, AkiDwA insisted more action is needed.

"This law needs to be monitored, and government and statutory agencies need to take responsibility for the protection of children at risk of FGM. Prevention of FGM needs to be the main objective," commented Salome Mbugua, CEO of AkiDwA.

However, she welcomed the recent launch of the new Child and Family Agency, Tusla, and added that this will ‘serve as the beginning of strong support from Ireland's child protection agency against FGM'.

AkiDwA made its comments to mark International Day of Zero Tolerance to FGM (February 6).

For more information on the organisation, click here