The image above is a stock image.

CLEVELAND — Wednesday, Feb. 6 is International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation( FGM).

It is an important day for millions of women and girls, including thousands in Ohio, which you may be surprised to learn.

FGM is a procedure that puts the health, and lives, of girls and women at risk. It is recognized internationally as a violation of their human rights. Yet, it continues predominately in parts of Africa, the Middle East and Asia, as well.

In the United States, the CDC estimates 513,000 women and girls are at risk of, or have undergone, FGM.

Read more here.