A midwife who specialises in treatment of female genital mutilation has said the practice can be fatal.

Comfort Momoh was speaking in Dublin at the launch of a worldwide social media campaign against the practice.

The campaign is being launched with the backing of the #MeToo movement.

The United Nations estimates that at least 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone some form of FGM, while almost 6,000 women living in Ireland have been subjected to it.

Action Aid Ireland says while female genital mutilation is illegal here, the Government needs to improve and better coordinate FGM prevention and survivor support services.

Activists are asking people to mark zero tolerance day for FGM using the hashtag '#MeTooFGM' to indicate their support.

FGM or Cutting is the partial or total destruction of female genitalia for non-medical reasons. 

It is considered a violation of the human rights of girls and women.

The event was launched by survivor and campaigner Ifrah Ahmed. Among those who were at the event were Sabina Higgins, singer Mary Coughlan, and obstetrician Dr Peter Boylan.