I’m part of the community

You are already on the right track!

• Inform yourself about the legal situation in Germany including what you can and should do.
• We encourage you to spring into action! There are many people ready to help you with the next step, search one nearby here in the category counselling - general or counselling for women or directly contact the so-called Jugendamt. These youth welfare offices exist nearly everywhere, find the closest one here: https://www.jugendaemter.com/jugendaemter-in-deutschland/
• If you think the girl might be cut in her home country during a visit, download one of the safeguard letters in her home language for her/her family to take it along.

Good question! This might help you:

• It is not at all negative - on the contrary, because a woman’s body  is perfect by nature - and nature ensures that both of you can enjoy sex much more than after any type of cutting!
• In addition, depending on the type of cutting, the consequences can be as severe as leading to death – not to mention the problems once she becomes pregnant.
• This is why it is even illegal.
• Maybe you want to check the truth behind the usual justifications.
• If you wish to talk to people that understand your doubts, search someone nearby here in the category counselling - general or counselling for women.

Be gentle, be loving, be patient! 

• Be as supportive as you can, the consequences of the cutting for your partner depend much on what she’s gone through - we recommend the following videos:
  • Types of cutting
  • Typical consequences
• Try to understand why this was done to her.
• Learn about the rights and options of your partner.
• Last, but not least, there are people ready to advise and support you: Search here in the category counselling - general or counselling for women.

Good that you’re already asking! 

• If your wife or partner was closed, she needs to be opened prior to giving birth. 
• Accompany her to an experienced doctor (gynaecologist) as soon as possible in order to discuss the ideal time to do it. Search one nearby here in the category medical assistance for women.
• By the way: She has a right to free medical treatment!
• Some information upfront:
  • If there is enough time to do the opening ahead, the birth process can be almost normal. If she is opened only during the birth process, this means an additional burden for her and the baby.
  • Please note that your wife/partner will not be again closed after giving birth, as this would be like a new cutting and as such, it is legally banned in Germany.
  • An if your baby is a girl, she mustn’t be cut at any time and at any place, even outside of Germany. This is due to the legal situation here.

It’s normal that you’re confused, and you’re not alone! 

• It is indeed illegal here and considered a crime, because it violates the woman’s human rights and causes severe health problems.
• This conflicts with the reasoning you may have heard in your community.
• Consider talking to people who understand your dilemma – find someone here in the category counselling - general or counselling for women.
• And once you’ve made up your mind and want to help to stop cutting, spread the word and inform girls and women about their rights and options.
• More and more people all over the world are rejecting cutting, and the better they connect and speak up, the faster it will disappear.

Good question! Let’s have a look:

• This is about the different reasoning and what argues against it.
• Maybe the following will also help you to make up your mind about cutting:
  • How a woman’s body is changed by cutting.
  • What the possible consequences of cutting are.

You already did the first step!

• Spread the word - everything starts with talking - and become a myth buster.
• Let family/community members know about the legal situation in Germany and girls/women know their rights and options.
• Get involved with a private organisation: Find one nearby here in the category counselling - general or counselling for women and get in contact!