Thanks for downloading the inquiry. This week's episode contains some content you may find upsetting.

We're examining a sensitive subject, the campaign against female genital mutilation.

You might think you've already heard a lot about it because the international movement

against it is so high profile, but what gets less attention is the fact that some experts

are questioning those campaign efforts.

To the east of the Nile in Cairo, Egypt, the city's international conference center stands tall, its grand white pillars and

huge glass windows gleaming in the hot sun. Inside there, in September 1994, United Nations delegates from 179 countries

adopted a plan of action for the next 20 years.

As the American Vice President's wife Tippagore said,

lives would be changed.

So much of our agenda here deals truly with the empowerment of women, helping them develop their

potential. Included was one issue that had never been raised before,

female genital mutilation.

Female circumcision or genital cutting as it's also known was declared a

violation of basic rights and a major lifelong risk to women's health.

It was agreed it should end.

UN agencies swung into action.

NGOs and charities launched vigorous campaigns, millions of dollars were spent.

More than two decades on, there has been success.

In some places, in others, little or non.

FGM still takes place in 30 countries

and to an estimated 3 million girls every year.

...