Midwives play a key role not only in averting maternal and newborn deaths, but also in promoting good health in communities as a whole. FGM is a deeply entrenched cultural practice and many midwives face significant social pressure from the community to perform it. Midwives are however not always equipped to resist this pressure because the majority of midwives have not received formal training and education on FGM.

This toolkit aims to strengthen the capacities of midwives on FGM and engage them in the campaign to end female genital mutilation.

It includes key messages, information about the medicalization of FGM, which is the trend to using midwives and other health professionals to perform FGM so that it will be carried out more safely.  It also includes suggestions for how midwives can prevent FGM and provides suggested activities at the local and national levels.