Shocking photos depicting the horror in the eyes of girls in a Kenyan village, waiting patiently for their fellow villagers to genitally mutilate them (clitoridectomy), bring to light the horrible practice. It is illegal to do so in Kenya, however, it is still performed in villages, on girls who are expected to marry. Reuters photographer Siegfried Modola took pictures of the ceremony and the young girls about to suffer through the so called “Baringo”.  Pictures with teary eyes, razors and dripping blood only cause chills. “Pain will make her strong. It will show the village she can bear through it”, said a mother who saw her daughter being mutilated, ignoring the fact that this practice can transmit disease, cause severe bleeding, many health problems, and even death.

This has been widely accepted as a practice that does not respect human rights. It is performed on young or teenage girls, sometimes even in mature women. It is done without an anesthetic, with a knife or razor blade, and it is required of the girls not to cry or protest.