. >> reporter: when aissata camara was 13, she immigrated to queens, new york, from the west african country of guinea. she fit in, went to high school and college in the city, and earned a master's degree at new york university. but there was a part of her life she told no one about, something she thought people here would not understand. she was subjected to female genital mutilation. >> it was very lonely. because who spoke to me about it? no one. so, you're-- here, you're carrying this big secret with you, and no one is there to help you. >> reporter: according to the world health organization between 100 and 140 million women have under-gone female genital mutilation, also known as cutting. the united nations says it's practiced mostly in 29 countries in africa and the middle east, even though it's been outlawed in most of them. in egypt, somalia and guinea, it's estimated more than 90% of women have been cut. the world health organization says the ancient practice ranges from removing part or all of a girl's clitoris to, in the most severe cases, narrowing the vaginal opening b