Female circumcision has been banned in a community in eastern Uganda, according to the BBC. Kapchorwa district chairman Nelson Chelimo said the excruciating procedure was “outmoded” and “not useful” for the community’s women. The ritual, which is still practiced throughout parts of Africa, entails removing the clitoris and is thought to be a way to ensure virginity. In fact, three million girls are at risk of female genital mutilation in Africa today. The BBC reports United Nations agencies have called for a major reduction in the practice by 2015, arguing that it leads to bleeding, shock, infections, and a greater chance of death for newborn babies.