Exhibition details repair and rebuilding after female genital mutilation
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At the Festival du Monde in France, an exhibition called “Réparer les vivantes” (“Repairing the Living”) documents the work of a hospital unit helping women rebuild their lives after female genital mutilation (FGM).
Photographers Elodie Ratsimbazafy and journalist Karine Le Loët spent two months in the specialized unit at André-Grégoire Hospital in Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis, France, following patients and healthcare workers. The exhibition combines thirty photographs with ten audio episodes that tell the stories of women undergoing physical and emotional recovery.
The hospital unit, led by obstetric surgeon Sarah Abramowicz, offers comprehensive care. It includes support from midwives, psychologists, sexologists, forensic doctors, and social workers, addressing issues that can emerge years after FGM, such as urinary problems, pain, and complications during menstruation or sex. Women share their experiences through audio recordings, describing both the pain of their past and the hope of regaining sensation and confidence.
In 2024, approximately 134,000 women in France experienced FGM, with the Seine-Saint-Denis region having the highest concentration at 7.2% of the female population.
