Ending Female Genital Mutilation

Female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures that involve altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons and is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights, the health and the integrity of girls and women.

This practice, sometimes referred to as ‘female circumcision’, is prevalent mostly in Africa and the Middle East though present in some Asian and South American countries. It is so persistent that it is even found in several migrant communities in Europe and  Australia. Indeed, as many as 600, 000 women and girls in Europe are living as survivors of FGM.

Many of those African communities where FGM is prevalent consider it part of initiation rites into womanhood while in some other cultures, the myth that FGM is a check on female female sexuality is very strong. Another myth that exposes the patriarchal origins of the practice is that male partners experience greater sexual pleasure from women who have undergone FGM. 

But the truth is that girls who undergo female genital mutilation face short-term complications such as severe pain, shock, excessive bleeding, infections, and difficulty in passing urine, as well as long-term consequences for their sexual and reproductive health and mental health. The myths that also surround the practice have absolutely no basis in fact or in medicine as the originators had limited knowledge of the human anatomy.

And so, to eliminate the harmful practice, the UN General Assembly in 2012, designated February 6 as a call to action to eliminate what is globally regarded as a health risk and a violation of the rights of the woman.

In a statement to mark the day, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, “Together, we can eliminate female genital mutilation by 2030. Doing so will have a positive ripple effect on the health, education and economic advancement of girls and women.”

UN figures say 4.1 million girls around the world are at risk of undergoing female genital mutilation in 2020 alone and this is a call to action by all stakeholders to give these girls a life where they can make certain far-reaching choices as adults. 

In recognition of the fact that youth populations are increasing dramatically, the UN adopted “Unleashing Youth Power” as its theme for the 2020 campaign as it seeks to totally abolish the practice by 2030 on a youth-driven agenda.

There have been successes across the continent though limited. In some regions of Ethiopia where UN-supported action has been implemented, FGM rates have fallen to 31%. In Nigeria where 27% of Nigerian women between the ages of 15 and 49 were victims of FGM, the country’s former President Goodluck Jonathan signed into law a bill banning Female Genital Mutilation. Latest trends show a further decline in the prevalence of the practice in Nigeria.

Emphasis is on prevention. African governments must invest heavily in education and enlightenment especially among traditional populations to dispel the myths surrounding FGM. These community engagements would better be driven by Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Community Based Organizations in conjunction with governments at every level.

All stakeholders must be involved in the campaign to end FGM. Men, women and youth groups must be co-opted to break the generational progression of that aspect of culture. Zero tolerance must mean all segments of society take ownership of the effort to stop this physical and emotional abuse of the woman.

#EndFGM

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