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The United Nations children's agency has called for an end to female genital mutilation, saying the cruel and dangerous practice is spreading.
A report issued Thursday by UNICEF says millions of girls and women in Africa alone are still subjected to the procedure, known as female circumcision, which involves cutting off portions of or all of the female genitalia.
The report says that immigration has led to a "globalization" of the practice and it is affecting far more women than previously believed.
It says the procedure often leads to hemorrhaging, infection and, later, problems during child birth.
UNICEF is working with other organizations to stop female circumcision through education within traditional communities.
Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters.
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