The Egyptian government on Thursday banned female circumcision after the death of a 12 year-old girl. A 2005 UNICEF study indicated 95% of married Egyptian women had been circumcised and a recent Egyptian study revealed that 50.5% of girls aged 10-18 had been circumcised.

This is a long overdue action which will protect women. Unfortunately, female circumcision continues as a practice in many parts of Africa.