Denmark

5,764,256

0.36%

Estimated prevalence among girls and women aged 15-49

Unknown. There have been no national studies into female genital cutting (FGC) in Denmark.

Anti-FGC organisation Intact Denmark estimates that 20,000 women in the country could have undergone FGC, or may be at risk of undergoing the practice.

Female genital cutting (FGC) is not indigenous to Denmark, however there are reports of immigrant, refugee and diaspora communities in the country that practice FGC.

Type practised

Unknown. The type of FGC practised by communities in Denmark is likely to be varied, depending on the traditions of the ethnic group/country of origin that surround cutting.

Age

Unknown. Girls from different communities could undergo FGC from birth, approximately up until the age of 16, depending on the traditional age of cutting within a specific ethnic group.

Agent

Unknown. Girls may be at risk of undergoing FGC within Denmark, although there are no known reports of this, or girls could be at risk of being taken overseas to undergo the procedure. This is also known as “vacation cutting”.

Legal status

Illegal.

National progress

• 2010 – Our sister organisation, Orchid Project Denmark, set up. It is run by a group of committed volunteers, who fundraise and host awareness raising events in Denmark, and have been instrumental in enabling Orchid Project’s work.
• 2011 – Danish government signed a European Council convention that committed them to investigate the extent of FGC in Denmark, although this commitment has not yet been followed through

Human Development Index ranking

 11 in 2018 index, based on 2017 data.

Infant mortality rate

 3.7 deaths per 1,000 live births (2016).

Maternal mortality rate

6 deaths per 100,000 live births (2015).

Source: Human Development Index

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