More than 200 million women and girls have been genitally mutilated or cut in 30 countries around the world.

More than half of them happen in three countries:

Indonesia: Almost half of Indonesian girls under 12 years-old have undergone some form of female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C) and three out of four girls had procedure when they were less than six months old.

Egypt: 87% of Egyptian women 15-49 years-old have undergone FGM/C.

Ethiopia: In Ethiopia, 25 million women who have undergone FGM/C and 65% of women 15-49 years-old have had the procedure.

The U.N. has been working to raise awareness, and made February 6 the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation.

But the practice is still prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and Indonesia.

And it's been reported in Colombia, India, Malaysia, and parts of Europe, Australia, North America, UNICEF says.

The procedure differs around the world, but can involve partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, as well as pricking, pierce, scraping, and cauterization of genitals.

The most common procedure is infibulation where the vaginal orifice is surgically narrowed.

FGM/C predates the rise of Christianity and Islam, and no religious texts call for the practice, the U.N. says.

But some say there is religious support for the act and believe that it protects a woman's virginity, by discouraging intercourse.

While some religious leaders promote it, others have also worked to end the practice.

The last few decades have seen some progress in preventing FGM/C.

In 1985, 51% of girls 15-19 years old had undergone procedures. In 2016, that number fell to 37%.

In countries that report data, the majority of people think the practice should end, UNICEF found.

At least 59 countries have passed laws against it, including 26 of the 29 African countries where FGM is most concentrated.

But some places, it's a step forward, and two steps back.

For example, in 2006, Indonesia's Ministry of Health issued a letter prohibiting the practice by medical professionals.

But the Indonesian Ulema Council issued a fatwa against that, saying it was part of Sharia law.

The ministry then released a regulation allowing for the practice.

In 2014, women and children rights groups pushed for it to be repealed.

However even today, no one is punished for practicing it.