ALMOST 30 women marched through Easton waving a banner and chanting for an end to female genital mutilation.

The women from the city's ethnic minority communities were trying to spread the message that so-called circumcision should not be carried out on girls.

It is believed that about 2,000 girls in Bristol alone are at risk of circumcision and about six cases a year are referred to social services by concerned teachers or nurses who fear youngsters could be at risk.

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a cultural practice carried out in more than 28 African countries, particularly Somalia, Egypt and Sudan, plus some in Asia and South America, where part or all of the genitalia is removed from girls.

It is illegal and people who are found to be involved face up to 14 years in prison.

Women who are circumcised can suffer kidney problems and urinary infections, complications in childbirth and chronic pain along with the risk of death from bleeding or contracting diseases such as HIV and hepatitis when it is carried out.

Women from affected communities have attended courses on the issue staged a march yesterday from Muller Hall in Seymour Road to the Trinity Centre in Old Market, where an event was held to mark the work that is being done to educate people about the risks of the practice.

They decorated their own sashes, which they wore for the march as they chanted "no FGM".

Among those who walked along Stapleton Road were women who had been forced to be circumcised when they were younger but are determined to change attitudes so future generations of girls are not mutilated.

One woman, who did not wish to be named, told the Evening Post: "It is too late to go back for us but we want our daughters to know that they do not have to go through the same."

NHS Bristol, the city council and Avon and Somerset Police are working with communities to raise awareness about the legal implications of the practice.

A new poster and leaflet campaign has also been started in the city to inform people that FGM is abuse and that people should not treat it as an accepted custom.

The campaign is being backed by the Bristol Safeguarding Children Board.

Chairman Dr Ray Jones, professor of social work at Kingston University said: "There are many myths around the practice but there is no religious text that supports or promotes any form of FGM.

"I hope that this campaign will go some way to highlight the criminal nature of the practice and increase the confidence of girls and women to come forward with any concerns for themselves or family members."

He said that the issue was not just about women but also the men within communities who might wish women to have FGM.

Layla Ismail, a Bristol community worker from Forward, a campaign against FGM, said that with her own daughters she did not know whether her friends were having their girls circumcised or not.

She said: "It was a very sensitive topic to talk about.

"But walking along Stapleton Road was something I have never seen before. I would like to thank everyone who came along. It shows the commitment to stand up for themselves.

"It is our community leading the campaign."

Jackie Mathers of NHS Bristol, the designated nurse for safeguarding children has been working with women from ethnic communities.

She said that when she did her nursing training there was no mention of FGM and she believes it is important for nurses to have an understanding of the implications.

Ms Mathers also told the women gathered at the Trinity Centre: "Your voice is really valuable to help with services. We have to protect young people and need your support to say no and help us eradicate this."