Female genital mutilation (FGM) torture is believed to have been experienced by as many as one in every 20 women in one London borough. As per estimates provided by a report by City University London and human rights organisation Equality Now, the painful procedure was performed on 4.7% of women living in Southwark. One in 10 (10.4%) girls is living there whose mothers have undergone FGM.

The report also estimated the rates of FGM outside the capital for Manchester, Slough, Bristol, Leicester and Birmingham. The rates there ranged from 1.2% to 1.6%.

FGM rates of more than 0.7% were estimated for other places, including Milton Keynes, Cardiff, Coventry, Sheffield, Reading, Thurrock, Northampton and Oxford.

A study published in July 2014 also showed that FGM affected an estimated 137,000 women and girls.

"For the most part, people born in countries where FGM is practised tend to be concentrated in urban areas, but there are likely to be affected women and girls living in every local authority area", said the report.

The report also showed that 144,000 girls were born in England and Wales to mothers from FGM practising countries between 1996 and 2010.

Alison Macfarlane, professor of perinatal health at City University London and author of the report, said it is very important to support these women during pregnancy and childbirth because complications could emerge from FGM.

The women who have undergone FGM must not be stigmatized. Many families have already given up the practice after migrating and the countries they belong to have also changed their attitude to eliminate the practice. Those who have not given up the practice should be provided proper education that they must safeguard their daughters from FGM.