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Challenges for the Future

FGM is a violation of human rights and a severe act of discrimination and violence against women. Ending FGM is a matter of global urgency and is included in Sustainable Development Goal 5: “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls” which explicitly states, “Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation”.

The Sustainable Development Goals, adopted on 25 September 2015 as a part of the 2030 Agenda by Maria Gershuni via Wikimedia Commons

Several international agencies, specifically the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), have collaborated in recent years with the aim to end FGM globally. Such activities in the last 30 years have resulted in an overall decline in prevalence of the practice of FGM. Despite this, UNICEF predicts that there will be a significant increase in the number of women circumcised in the next 15 years due to population growth.

Data shows that today approximately 1 in 3 girls aged 15 to 19 have undergone the procedure compared to 1 in 2 girls in the mid-1980s. The decline in FGM is more evident in low-prevalence countries such as Benin, Toga and Ghana, with the most significant reductions found in Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania. However, in many other countries, FGM remains a universal practice, specifically, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea and Somalia who have a rate of greater than 90% of women being mutilated. Even if the prevalence of FGM declines, there will still be an increase in the number of girls affected due to a growing population. If there is no change, the number of girls being circumcised each year will increase from 3.6 million in 2013 to 6.6 million in 2050. However, that number will only increase to 4.1 million in 2050 if the rate of progress achieved over the last 30 years is maintained. Clearly there is still much more that needs to be done to greatly reduce these numbers.

Education is the key

Education is essential in ending FGM as it has the power to change many individual and societal views. Education is directly linked to FGM, with girls and women who have no education being considerably more likely to be in favour of the practice.

The Burkina Faso government have included FGM/C in the curriculum to teach both boys and girls about the consequences of cutting when they’re at school by Lindsay Mgbor/DFID via Wikimedia Commons

Educational strategies:

There are several strategies that can be implemented in schools and communities to assist in decreasing the prevalence of FGM.

Better access to education:

Education provides women and girls with access to information and empowers them to make their own decisions and choices and hence live independent lives.

Curriculum content:

The topic of FGM should be integrated into school curriculums to encourage people to talk more openly about the issue and make informed decisions about FGM. Information should be discussed in an open manner so girls feel they can share their own experiences in a safe environment.

Professional training:

Teachers and counsellors should be sufficiently trained on the subject matter so they can effectively educate younger people. Particularly so they can assist young girls who have undergone the procedure and are facing severe complications, as well as those who are at risk of having the procedure done.

Influence of Religious leaders

Despite being practiced by people of many religions such as Christianity, Islam and Judaism, FGM is not required nor condoned by any religion. Religious leaders have a significant amount of influence in many cultures, perhaps more so than any other authority figure, as they are looked up to for guidance. Their role in ending FGM is therefore of utter importance. If religious leaders can stand up and say that FGM is not a requirement of their religion, then people will have no reason to perform the procedure on religious premises.  

Kharda Nur, a Somali woman, had been circumcising girls for 20 years before she stopped 5 years ago. During her career, she would circumcise up to 20 girls a month, but now she actively encourages others to also give up the practice. She reported the main reason she stopped circumcising girls was because she was told it was against her religion. She said “Religious leaders in my community said again and again and again do not do this. That’s when I decided I have to stop.” Evidently the support of religious leaders would drastically increase efforts to stop the harmful practice of FGM.

For many people like Kharda Nur, circumcising girls is their only source of income. It is vital that both men and women who have chosen to give up performing FGM are supported such as through services that allow them to find new jobs and successfully support themselves without any girls having to be mutilated.

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Sources:

1. Gershuni M. Sustainable Development Goals.jpg [Internet]. Wikimedia Commons; 2016 Oct 31 [cited 2017 Sep 6]. [Figure], The Sustainable Development Goals, adopted on 25 September 2015 as a part of the 2030 Agenda. Available from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sustainable_Development_Goals.jpg

2.Commonwealth. Female Genital Mutilation: The Role of Education [Internet]. Commonwealth; [cited 2017 Sep 6]. Available from: https://www.thecommonwealth-educationhub.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/FGM-and-Education-Brief_v2.pdf

3. Mgbor L, DFID. Educating boys and girls about Female Genital Mutilation-Cutting (FGM-C) (12345095983).jpg [Internet]. Wikimedia Commons; 2014 Jan 1 [cited 2017 Sep 6]. [Figure], the Burkina Faso government have included FGM/C in the curriculum to teach both boys and girls about the consequences of cutting when they’re at school. Available from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Educating_boys_and_girls_about_Female_Genital_Mutilation-Cutting_(FGM-C)_(12345095983).jpg

4. Pflanz M. Religious leaders join the fight to end female circumcision in Somalia [Internet]. UNICEF (SO); 2011 [cited 2017 Sep 7]. Available from: https://www.unicef.org/somalia/reallives_10195.html 

5. UNICEF. Female Genital Mutilation and cutting [Internet]. UNICEF; 2016 Sep [cited 2017 Sep 6]. Available from: https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-protection/female-genital-mutilation-and-cutting/#

6. UNICEF. Female Genital Mutilation/cutting: What might the future hold? [Internet]. New York (USA): UNICEF; 2010 [cited 2017 Sep 6]. Available from: https://www.unicef.org/media/files/FGM-C_Report_7_15_Final_LR.pdf

7. United Nations. Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls [Internet]. United Nations: Sustainable Development Goals; 2016 Jan [cited 2017 Sep 6]. Available from: http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/gender-equality/

8. Plan International West Africa. Religious Leaders speak out about FGM [internet]. Plan International West Africa; 2016 Feb 6 [cited 2017 Sep 6]. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubRRh4Dkf1A

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Country Case Study: Somalia

Female genital mutilation is being practiced in 29 African countries today. Somalia being the worst, has the highest prevalence of FGM in the world with 98% of women aged between 15 and 49 having undergone the procedure. Despite the many laws against FGM and that it isn’t condoned by any religion, FGM remains ingrained in Somalia’s culture.

Prevalence of female genital mutilation for women aged 15–49 years in 29 countries in which the practice is concentrated by Delphi234 via Wikimedia Commons

Why is FGM so common in Somalia?

According to a Guardian report (2011) Somalia is one of the worst nations in the world for women. The report claims that 

“domestic violence, constant fear of rape, lack of healthcare and basic needs and cultural inferiority are the reality for women in Somalia. They have no voice and little respect.” 

Amongst these injustices that Somali women endure, they are also discriminated against if they are not circumcised. An uncircumcised woman is viewed as ‘dirty’ and unmarriageable. Men want a virgin, and a sealed vagina confirms this. Charity Kinya Koronya is a child protection officer for UNICEF who, while not mutilated herself, lived in a community where girls underwent FGM. She said 

“You are stitched and not opened until the day of your marriage… They say someone who is open, anyone can go in.” 

The cultural stigma associated with not being circumcised is enough reason for many women to suffer the procedure. The fear of not marrying is stronger than the fear of being cut for many Somali women.  

What is currently being done?

There is currently no national law in Somalia specifically prohibiting FGM, however in 2012 a new constitution was introduced that banned female circumcision. The provisional constitution states: 

“Circumcision of girls is a cruel and degrading customary practice, and is tantamount to torture. The circumcision of girls is prohibited.” 

Despite this, the practice still remains widespread in Somalia as not enough is being done to educate communities on the negative effects of FGM. Both men and women oppose the movement on the belief that their religion requires it, and that it is necessary for marriage. These people need to be taught this is not the case.

What more can be done?

FGM is imbedded in Somalia’s culture. Changing a culture, a way of life, is going to take more than ink on paper saying female circumcision is wrong. Somali men don’t want to marry uncircumcised women so Somali women want to be circumcised. This reflects a deeply rooted gender inequality between the sexes. Experts suggest that the key to stopping FGM in Somalia is through community empowerment programmes, raising awareness of the health complications associated with FGM and disassociating it from Islam. Education on the issue seems to be the key in eradicating FGM. The new constitution that was introduced in 2012 raised concerns that people weren’t being convinced to stop the practise but rather carry it out in secret, thus adequate community involvement in the matter is essential in changing people’s views on FGM and ending it for good. In order to stop this abuse of women and girls, measures need to be taken to better educate and support the victims of FGM as well as criminalize people who are guilty of performing the procedures.

  Community Mobiliser Safiya Abukar Ali conducting an awareness session at Walalah Biylooley camp by David Mutua via Wikimedia Commons

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Sources:

1. Abdirahman A. Somalia to introduce law prohibiting Female Genital Mutilation [Internet]. Horseed Media (AF); 2015 Aug 3 [cited 2017 Sep 5]. Available from: https://horseedmedia.net/2015/08/03/somalia-to-introduce-law-prohibiting-female-genital-mutilation/

2. Delphi234. FGM prevalence 15–49 (2014).svg [Internet]. Wikimedia Commons; 2014 [cited 2017 Sep 5]. [Figure], Prevalence of female genital mutilation for women aged 15–49 years in 29 countries in which the practice is concentrated. Available from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FGM_prevalence_15–49_(2014).svg

3. Daily News (US). Muslims debate centuries-old tradition of female genital mutilation in Somalia [Internet]. New York, United States: Daily News (US); 2014 Mar 1 [cited 2017 Sep 4]. Available from: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/muslims-debate-female-genital-mutilation-somalia-article-1.1707238

4. Guardian (AU). Female genital mutilation banned under Somalia's new constitution [Internet]. Guardian Development Network: The Guardian (AU); 2012 Aug 17 [cited 2017 Sep 5]. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2012/aug/17/female-genital-mutilation-banned-somalia 

5. Guardian (AU). The worst places in the world for women: Somalia [Internet]. The Guardian (AU); 2011 Jun 15 [cited 2017 Sep 5]. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jun/14/worst-places-in-the-world-for-women-somalia

6.  Boldly. How I Survived Female Genital Mutilation [Internet]. Boldly; 2016 Sep 24 [cited 2017Sep 5]. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTG1MQdlNRY

7. Mutua D. Anti-FGM Campaign at Walala Biyotey (12456298255).jpg [Internet]. Wikimedia Commons; 2014 Jan 25 [cited 2017 Sep 5]. [Figure], Community Mobiliser Safiya Abukar Ali conducting an awareness session at Walalah Biylooley camp. Available from:  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anti-FGM_Campaign_at_Walala_Biyotey_(12456298255).jpg

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Country Case Study: Tanzania

Anti-FGM Solutions in Tanzania

Tanzania is one of the FGM-practicing countries that have seen the greatest decline in the practice of FGM in recent years. It has implemented a number of effective anti-FGM solutions, including criminalising the act, providing alternative rites to FGM and educating the people in communities that practice FGM.

Table of Prevalence of FGM by Age in East-African Countries, by Rachel Ann Kok, adapted from data from the Population Reference Bureau

FGM bans and legislation

Tanzania’s government passed a law against carrying out FGM on girls below the age of 18 under the Sexual Offences Special Provisions Act (SOSPA).

The penalty for this offence can be up to a maximum of 5 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine of 300,000 Tanzanian shillings (US$185).

Effectiveness:

There has been a general decline in the practice of FGM since the implementation of the law.

Prevalence of fgm in tanzania by age by 28 Too Many via Country Profile: FGM in Tanzania

Limitations:

The Act only includes those who have custody, charge or care of a girl under 18, and does not include others who may be part of the FGM process, such as medical practitioners.

It is still legal for women aged 18 and above to be subjected to the practice of FGM.

There is no minimum sentence stated by the Act. Often, courts mete out marginal sentences on offenders.

Alternative Rites to FGM

Alternative Rites of Passage (ARPs) have been introduced to ethnic groups in Tanzania where FGM is an important signifier of a girl’s transition to adulthood. The implementation of ARPs has had varying levels of success in eliminating the practice of FGM in different communities. 

UNFPA supports the Terminate Female Genital Mutilation (TFGM) programme in the Tarime District of Tanzania. In addition to being an ARP, this programme educates girls on human rights, reproductive health and the culture of the Kurya community in which the programme is run.

Effectiveness:

Some communities have adopted ARPs that include the passing down of traditional beliefs and practices, which help strengthen ties in the community.

 Ceremonies are able to engage the elders in the community who often have the most influence over the practice of FGM.

Limitations:

For some ethnic groups, girls undergo FGM at a younger age in secret; hence ARPs are not as well received as a substitute.

Implementation of ARPs should also be accompanied by education of the community

Time consuming and expensive to implement for people in these communities that may not have the financial capacity to organise such ceremonies

A march against FGM. The participants are graduates and supporters of a rite of passage that serves as an alternative to FGM. Image by Mandela Gregoire via UNFPA

Education

Many Tanzanian communities believe that FGM is a cure for a non-existent disease known as Lawalawa. Lawalawa is the term used most often to describe vaginal and urinary tract infections, but is also used to explain fevers caused by other reasons. Health education is necessary to correct these false beliefs.

Educating traditional excisors (those who carry out the surgical procedure) and providing them with an alternative form of income is also a solution to ending FGM.

Effectiveness:

Teaching villagers about the health complications that accompany FGM was more effective in stopping the practice than the fear of prosecution.

Once the community understands that FGM has no health benefits to them, they are more likely to choose to end the practice themselves, which is more effective then bans imposed by external parties such as the government.

Limitations:

Often, villagers are sceptical of the education provided by “outsiders”, whom they feel are trying to impose new practices on the villagers without any proof of the effectiveness of these practices in curing “lawalawa”.

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Sources:

1. Population Reference Bureau. Female Genital Mutilation/ Cutting: Data and Trends Update 2010 [Internet]. Population Reference Bureau; 2010 [cited 2017 Sep 4]. Available from: http://www.prb.org/pdf10/fgm-wallchart2010.pdf

2. Population Reference Bureau. Female Genital Mutilation/ Cutting: Data and Trends Update 2017 [Internet]. Population Reference Bureau; 2017 [cited 2017 Sep 4]. Available from: http://www.prb.org/pdf17/FGMC%20Poster%202017.pdf

3. 28 Too Many. Country Profile: FGM in Tanzania [Internet]. 28 Too Many; 2013 Dec [cited 2017 Sep 4]. Available from: http://www.28toomany.org/media/uploads/tanzania_final_final_final.pdf

4. 28 Too Many. Country Profile: FGM in Tanzania [Internet]. 28 Too Many; 2013 Dec [cited 2017 Sep 04]. [Figure] Prevalence of FGM in women and girls by age. Available from: http://www.28toomany.org/media/uploads/tanzania_final_final_final.pdf

5. Equality Now. Tanzania: Enforcement of the Law Against Female Genital Mutilation [Internet]. Equality Now; [cited 2017 Sep 4]. Available from: https://www.equalitynow.org/action-alerts/tanzania-enforcement-law-against-female-genital-mutilation

6. Mbashiru K. Tanzania: 'Lawalawa' - Non-Existent Disease That Fuels FGM   [Internet]. Tanzania Daily News; 2016 Feb 26 [cited 2017 Sep 4]. Available from: http://allafrica.com/stories/201602291665.html

7. Ali C, Strøm A. "It is important to know that before, there was no lawalawa." Working to stop female genital mutilation in Tanzania. Elsevier Ltd; 2012 Dec [cited 2017 Sep 4]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23245411

8. UNFPA. GOOD PRACTICES TANZANIA: Intensifying rights-based programming to end female genital mutilation in Mara Region, Tanzania [Internet]. UNFPA; 2014 June [cited 2017 Sep 4]. Avaliable from: http://tanzania.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/resource-pdf/Good%20practice%20FGM4%20%282%29.pdf

9. Wamunza S. The start of a movement: Girls rising up against FGM [Internet]. UNFPA; 2015 Feb 06 [cited 2017 Sep 4]. Available from: http://www.unfpa.org/news/start-movement-girls-rising-against-fgm

10.  Wamunza S. The start of a movement: Girls rising up against FGM [Internet]. UNFPA; 2015 Feb 6 [cited 2017 Sep 4]. [Figure] A march against FGM, taken by Mandela Gregoire. Available from: http://www.unfpa.org/es/node/10468

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What has been done? A Timeline of Global Action and Advocacy

Beginning from the early 20th century, there has been an increasing awareness of the detrimental effects of the practice of FGM. Since then, governments, social activists and international bodies have attempted to end this practice.

A UK aid supported UNICEF-UNFPA Joint Programme conducted focus groups with community representatives in Burkina Faso on the practice of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting by Jessica Lea via DFID - UK Department for International Development, 2014

1920s:

The Egyptian Society of Physicians began the first known campaign against FGM by delivering a statement which outlined the negative health effects of FGM. Their campaign received support from the Egyptian Ministry of Health, the media and religious scholars. British Protestant missionaries also campaigned against the practice in Kenya over 3 decades, but they are strongly opposed by Kenya’s largest ethnic group, the Kikuyu people.

1970s: 

The government of Senegal begins to advocate the abandonment of FGM through programmes and local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and women’s associations raise awareness of the issue of FGM in order to help improve the status of women.

Knives used for female genital mutilation, East Africa by Michael Rückl via Wikimedia Commons

1993: 

At the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna, FGM was re-conceptualised as a violation of human rights.

In the past decade, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has been actively working alongside the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) as well as other United Nations (UN) agencies to end the practice of FGM.

2007: 

UNFPA and UNICEF introduced the Joint Programme on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting help speed up the elimination of the practice of FGM.

2008: 

In partnership with 9 other agencies of the UN, WHO issued a statement titled: “Eliminating Female Genital Mutilation: An Interagency Statement”. The statement includes data on FGM which had been collected over the previous decade and calls for greater action to be taken in order to eliminate this practice within the next generation. The World Health Assembly (WHA) also passed resolution WHA61.16 on the elimination of FGM.

2010: 

WHO, UNICEF and a number of other key UN agencies published The “Global strategy to stop health care providers from performing female genital mutilation”.

2012: 

In December, the members of the UN General Assembly voted to pass a resolution that bans the practice of FGM.

2016: 

UNICEF published a report on the prevalence of the practice of FGM in 30 countries and the trends of its prevalence. This report built upon data from a previous report released in 2013, and also included information about the cultural aspects of the practice and the programmes and policies employed to tackle this issue across the globe.

In May, WHO teamed up with UNFPA-UNICEF’s Joint Programme on FGM to release the first evidence-based guidelines on the management of health complications from FGM.

It has been found through research that the practice of FGM in a community can be swiftly eradicated once that community has taken the step to renounce FGM.

Unfortunately, many communities still hold tightly to the practice, and even women in these communities believe it to be necessary to their identity as a female. Thus, more education is needed in order to completely stop the practice of FGM.

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Sources:

1. UNICEF. Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: A statistical overview and exploration of the dynamics of change [Internet]. UNICEF; 2013 Jul [cited 2017 Aug 31]. Available from: http://data.unicef.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/FGMC_Lo_res_Final_26.pdf

2. Lea J. File:Preventing the practice of FGM-C in primary schools (12324138433).jpg [Internet]. DFID - UK Department for International Development; 2014 Jan 28 [cited 2017 Sep 1]. [Figure] A UK aid supported UNICEF-UNFPA Joint Programme conducted focus groups with community representatives in Burkina Faso on the practice of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting. Available at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Preventing_the_practice_of_FGM-C_in_primary_schools_(12324138433).jpg

3. Rückl M. File:Knives used for FGM.jpg [Internet]. Wikimedia Commons; 2010 Oct 6 [cited 2017 Aug 31]. [Figure], Knives used for female genital mutilation, East Africa. Available from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Knives_used_for_FGM.jpg

4. World Health Organisation. Female genital mutilation Fact sheet [Internet]. World Health Organisation; updated 2017 Feb [cited 2017 Aug 31]. Available from: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en/

5. United Nations. Ban welcomes UN General Assembly resolutions eliminating female genital mutilation [Internet]. United Nations; 2012 Dec 21 [cited 2017 Aug 31]. Available from: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=43839#.WagwpCgjE2w

6. UNICEF. At least 200 million girls and women alive today living in 30 countries have undergone FGM/C. UNICEF; updated 2016 Sep [cited 2017 Sep 1]. Available from: https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-protection/female-genital-mutilation-and-cutting/#

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What Are The Health Implications of FGM?

Types of FGM:

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified FGM into 4 procedural types:

Type 1: Clitoridectomy

Partial or complete removal of the clitoris, sometimes including the prepuce (the fold of skin covering the clitoris).

Type 2: Excision

Partial or complete removal of the clitoris and labia minora (inner lips covering the vagina), including or excluding the excision of the labia majora (outer folds of skin).

Type 3: Infibulation

Includes partial or complete removal of the labia minora and labia majora, then a seal is formed by stitching together the edges of the vulva, leaving a narrow opening for urine and menstrual flow. This procedure can occur with or without excision of the clitoris. The sealed vaginal opening can be opened either through penetrative sex or by deinfibulation (the surgical procedure to open the closed vagina).

Type 4: Unclassified

This type includes any other damaging things that can be done to a female’s genitals including pricking, piercing, cutting, cauterising or adding corrosive substances to the genitalia. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA),

These 4 procedural types are generally performed under unhygienic conditions, without anaesthetic (unless done by a medical practitioner) using knives, razor blades, scissors, scalpels and even pieces of glass.

What can go wrong? 

FGM has zero health benefits for woman and depending on the severity of the procedure, can lead to many initial and long-term complications:

Short-term health complications:

Extreme pain

Shock/trauma

Excessive bleeding (haemorrhage) which can be fatal

Difficulty urinating (due to swelling and/or blockage of the urethra)

Wound infections and healing issues

HIV (cutting multiple girls with the same surgical tools without sterilisation increases the risks of transmitting HIV between girls)

Death 

Even if a woman survives these immediate complications, many other things can still go wrong throughout her life time that drastically affect her functioning in everyday life.

Long-term health complications: 

Menstrual problems (difficulty in passing menstrual blood, extreme pain)

Infections (E.g. urinary tract infections, chronic genital infections, chronic reproductive tract infections)

Painful urination

Excessive scar tissue formation

Sexual complications (decreased enjoyment and sensitivity, intense pain during intercourse)

Infertility

Later surgery- the vaginal opening may need to be cut open (deinfibulation) for sexual intercourse or childbirth, and is often stitched back up afterwards (reinfibulation) so they are “tight” for their husbands.

Childbirth complications (include difficult delivery, excessive bleeding, increased chances of caesarean and newborn death)

Recurring cysts and abscesses 

Psychological consequences:

Depression and anxiety

Post-traumatic stress disorder

Low-self esteem

Nightmares

Loss of trust

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 Sources:

1. Guardian. All You Need To Know About FGM | End FGM [Internet]. The Guardian; 2016 Feb 6 [cited 2017 Aug 7]. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=HN1mulqwv5g

2. NETFA (AU). Why is Female Genital Mutilation or Cutting such a serious health risk? [Internet]. Australia: NETFA (AU); 2015 [cited 2017 Aug 27]. Available from: http://www.netfa.com.au/why-is-fgm-c-such-a-serious-health-risk.php

3. World Health Organisation. Female Genital Mutilation [Internet]. World Health Organisation; Updated 2017 Feb [cited 2017 Aug 27]. Available from: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en/

4. United Nations Population Fund. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Frequently Asked Questions [Internet]. UNFPA; 2017 Jan [cited 2017 Aug 27]. Available from: http://www.unfpa.org/resources/female-genital-mutilation-fgm-frequently-asked-questions

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What You Need To Know About FGM

What is FGM?

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO),

Female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.

Sometimes known as Female Genital Cutting, it can be performed on girls or women from infancy up till the age of thirty, but is most often carried out on girls between the ages of zero and fifteen.

Where is it performed?

The practice is most prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, but can also be found in certain communities in Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America, and even in some migrant communities across Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand.

The map below illustrates data collected by the United Nations Children’s Fund  UNICEF on the percentage of girls and women aged 15 to 49 years who have undergone FGM, by country.

Prevalence of FGM in Africa by UNICEF via WHO

This issue is most severe in Somalia, where 98% of girls and women have undergone the procedure.

Why is it performed?

FGM is often performed due to a variety of sociocultural factors imposed by the family or community (WHO). 

Most commonly, it is seen as a rite of passage for young girls to achieve womanhood, as well as to ensure marriageability by preserving their virginity. 

Some societies view it as a cultural tradition; hence its practice goes unquestioned. Its cultural significance in these communities is also used to argue against its elimination.

Why should we care?

FGM can be seen as a violation of human rights for girls and women, as it involves the removal of a healthy sexual organ without medical necessity and often results in harmful health consequences throughout a woman’s life.

FGM has been carried out on an estimated 200 million girls and women  across the world. Although there has been a decline in the practice of FGM over the last 30 years, not all countries have been able to effectively reduce its practice. In fact, with the current rates of population growth, the number of girls and women who will be subjected to FGM will increase significantly over the next 15 years.

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Sources: 

1. Al Jazeera. What is Female Genital Mutilation? [Internet]. Al Jazeera English; 2016 Oct 12 [cited 2017 Aug 25]. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIwQLgHHOZQ

2. World Health Organisation. Female genital mutilation Fact sheet [Internet]. World Health Organisation; updated 2017 Feb [cited 2017 Aug 25]. Available from: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en/

3. UNICEF. Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: A Global Concern [Internet]. UNICEF; 2016 [cited 2017 Aug 25]. Available from: https://www.unicef.org/media/files/FGMC_2016_brochure_final_UNICEF_SPREAD.pdf

4. World Health Organisation. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM): Prevalence of FGM [Internet]. World Health Organisation; 2013 [cited 2017 Aug 25]. [Figure], Figure 2 - Percentage of girls and women aged 15 to 49 years who have undergone FGM, by country. Available from: http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/fgm/prevalence/en/

5. United Nations Population Fund. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Frequently Asked Questions [Internet] UNFPA; 2017 Jan [cited 2017 Aug 25]. Available from: http://www.unfpa.org/resources/female-genital-mutilation-fgm-frequently-asked-questions