While many people who hear of the term automatically are disgusted and believe the practice is barbaric, there are some cultures and societies where fgm is practiced and even considered a. The world health organization, together with seven other united nations agencies and six. At the national level 16 african countries have passed legislation on the topic of fgm. In seeking to help eliminate the practice, the work places it in a human. The practice of fgmc in africa is one that has persisted due to strong. History has been made, female genital mutilation banned in. Geographic variation of female genital mutilation and. According to the world health organisation who, about a 100m women worldwide have undergone the procedure, which happens to. The most harmful of the traditions is female genital mutilation fgm. Finabas or later known as fina by her adopted family life revolves around her interrupted fgm female genital mutilation initiation process in her village. The practices is customarily a family tradition that the young female of the age 015 would experience.
Female genital mutilation fgm is the practice of partially or totally removing the external female genitalia or otherwise injuring the female genital organs for nonmedical reasons. Female genital mutilation exploring practices in relation. When it comes to female genital cutting, headlines provoke and call out for. Ekeocha disclosed that there are about six states in nigeria that still practice female genital mutilation, including imo state, stressing that unicef. Is female genital mutilation only practiced in africa. It is a traditional practice thatfor those who support its continuationis considered to be a.
The 2019 report card for the fight to end female genital. Female genital mutilation in africa fgm is usually motivated by cultural or religious belief systems, and is more common in some regions of africa. Type i commonly referred to as clitoridectomy, type ii commonly referred to as excision and type iii commonly referred to as infibulation are the most common forms of female genital mutilation fgm or female genital cutting fgc practiced in nigeria. Female genital mutilation or cutting fgmc is the act of either partially or totally removing the external female genitalia or causing injury to the female genital organs for nonmedical purposes. Female genital mutilationcutting fgmc remains a pervasive harmful cultural and traditional practice.
Towards the abandonment of female genital mutilation. Its understandable that opponents of female genital mutilation fgm might feel discouraged as the new year gets underway. Facing the scourge of female genital mutilation in africa. In the novel, the deadly practice of fgm is a comingofage event where a girl finally becomes a woman and belongs to the people of the village. The world health organisation who estimates that between 100140 million girls and women have undergone female genital mutilation or cutting fgmc. An overview of female genital mutilation in nigeria. This briefing derives from my lecture 1 april 2016 on female genital mutilation, to postgraduate students at the liverpool school of tropical medicine. The issue of female genital mutilation, a practice encompassing a partial or complete removal of the clitoris, has been a tricky and contentious subject for many people across diverse religious. There are different types of fgmc procedures ranging from nicking or pricking the prepuce. Female genital mutilation is practiced in one of those cultures that many are. Female genital mutilation fgm is defined by the world health organization who as all procedures which involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia andor injury to the female genital organs, whether for cultural or.
When katie finally returns from africa she needs all of sophias. Facts about female genital mutilation africa is full of traditions, some are good and some are harmful. From uganda, where fgm was prohibited in 2010, came reports of 226 cases. Fgm secretly happening in south africa africa witness. In extreme north cameroon, the prevalence rate is % for the fulbe people and people of arab descent. More than million girls and women have experienced fgmc in 29 countries in africa and the middle east where the practice is most common.
It comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for nonmedical reasons. It is mainly underreported in many countries in africa especially where it has. Three important lessons from a new book on female genital cutting. Looking at female circumcision from a literary perspective and how writers are fighting. Fgmc is now the preferred acronym used by unicef to refer to female genital mutilationcutting. Female genital mutilation in industrialized countries. Female genital mutilation affects a fifth of young girls in subsaharan africa this article is more than 6 years old problems such as violence, child marriage and fgm are. The victims of female genital mutilation experiences different health implications and they tend to be similar in all societies that practice fgm, though the implications differs because it depends on the procedure used and the type of fgm 4 the world health organization in 2000 identified the immediate health consequences, they include. Often referred to as clitoridectomy, this is the partial or total removal of the clitoris a small, sensitive and erectile part of the female genitals, and in very rare cases, only the prepuce the fold of skin surrounding the clitoris. Six states in nigeria that still practice female genital. In a victory for women in sudan, female genital mutilation is outlawed a new law criminalizes genital cutting, a harmful practice that nine in 10 sudanese women are said to have endured. Supported by ancient traditions, the cut is a mark of the social control over womens bodies and behaviour.
The practice has harmful consequences for womens health, ranging from kidney infection, complications in the childbirth and fatal bleeding to psychological damages which bears. Cnn ten villages in western niger have publicly denounced the practice of female genital mutilation, according to a unicef report. Female genital cutting, female genital mutilation, harmful traditional practice, nigeria. In international law, there is a consensus that female genital mutilation is a human rights violation that needs to be criminalised and eradicated by all states. Fgm can be performed as early as infancy and as late as age thirty. The practice of female genital mutilation is primarily occurring in africa, middle east and small communities in asia committee on bioethics, 2010, p. According to unicef and the world health organization who, the victims are concentrated in 29 countries. As my area of study, i chose four african countries that practice female genital mutilation in large numbers. Female genital mutilation fgm is a traditional practice in some african countries. Female genital mutilation fgm, also known as female genital cutting fgc or female circumcision, refers to a variety of operations involving the partial or total removal or alteration of female genitalia. Female genital mutilation who regional office for africa. Female genital mutilation fgm is defined by the world health organization who as all procedures that are involved in the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for nonmedical reasons, and is classified into four categories1. Fgmc has been documented in 29 countries in africa, in a few countries in. Fgm the problem of female genital mutilation in islam.
Fgmc is usually performed in children aged between 1 month and 15 years, and is therefore relevant to paediatric practice. The result of a major research report in 41 countries, both north and south, it covers not only the. The practice violates human rights and impairs the health of girls and women. The practice is prevalent in all parts of the country, but two types of female genital mutilation are especially common in the area. Female genital mutilation is classified into 4 major types.
Who collaborative prospective study in six african countries. Fcfgm is not exclusively a concern of african governments. A report on the prevalence of female circumcision and female genital mutilation. Thirty countries worldwide are affected by the issue of female genital mutilation utzbilling and kentenich, 2009, p. Some forms of female genital mutilation have also been reported in other countries, including among certain ethnic groups in south america. The types are ii and iii, also known as excision and infibulation, although the practice of type iii of fgm is mostly carried out in the eastern parts of the country which borders sudan. This practice is mostly carried out on young girls between infancy and the age of 16 years. I heard it is being practiced in african countries only. Female genital mutilation laws by country wikipedia. So many intellectual are there in muslim countries i wonder why they never voiced their concern about such barbaric practice. African countries that practice female genital mutilation. Executive summary this innocenti insight examines the social dynamics of the abandonment of female genital mutilationcutting fgmc in five countries egypt, ethiopia, kenya, senegal and the. This could either be for religious, cultural or other nontherapeutic reasons.
Every year, millions of girls and women across the world are subjected to female genital mutilation. Medical council in those countries should also highlight the risk of female genital mutilation using nonprofessional method. Often referred to as excision, this is the partial or total removal of the. The truth behind the horrifying global practice of female genital mutilation offers more than 70 case studies from people in two dozen countries across five continents. Her book woman at point zero 1975 is a fictionalised version of. The who defines the practice as all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or. Data collected in 2015 from household surveys show female genital mutilation exists in yemen, iraq, and indonesia and in some places in south america such as colombia, india, malaysia, oman, saudi arabia, and the united arab emirates. Fgmc female genital mutilationcutting figo federation of international obstetrics and gynecology htp harmful traditional practice iac interafrican committee of nigeria on harmful traditional practices affecting the health of women and children iec information, education and communication. However, the prevalence of fgm extends to some middle eastern, asian, australian, central american, and south american countries, but to a lesser degree. However, most commonly, girls experience fgm between four and twelve years of age. Female genital mutilation fgm is a barbaric practice which involves all procedures, partial or whole, removal of the external genitalia or simply put, injury to the female sexual organs. African developing nations or of minority immigrant populations res.
The result of a major research report in 41 countries, both north and south, it covers not. Women in subsaharan africa are especially affected by. Female genital mutilation fgm, also known as female genital cutting fgc, is practiced in 30 countries in western, eastern, and northeastern africa, in parts of the middle east and asia, and within some immigrant communities in europe, north america and australia. It is often believed to be a requirement for marriage and necessary to control womens sexuality. Female genital mutilationcutting fgmc is a traditional practice in which the external female genitalia is partially or totally incised or excised for a nontherapeutic reason, usually without. However, egypt has the highest number of women who have undergone fgm with a total of 27. Female genital mutilation affects a fifth of young girls. However, there are also cultural practices that are harmful to specific groups. Who study group on female genital mutilation and obstetric outcome female genital mutilation and obstetric outcome. Somalia is the leading country in fgm with 98% of women between the ages of 15 and 49 years undergoing the practice.
Prevalence of female genital mutilation by country. Fgm is a reproductive health and human rights concern that has. Female genital mutilation fgm is the collective name given to a number of cultural practices that involve the partial or total cutting of female genitals. Female genital mutilation, also referred to as fgm, is one of the biggest problems many women worldwide face. 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 nonmedical reasons. This is the most extensive report currently available on the use of law and policy to address the practice of female circumcisionfemale genital mutilation fcfgm. International human rights instruments to that effect include global and regional treaties, conventions, protocols, declarations, resolutions and recommendations such as cedaw committee general recommendation no. Some narrators are fgm survivors, some community activists, and some professionals who bring a. The health implications of female genital mutilation. Female genital mutilationcutting fgmc is a traditional practice with severe health consequences for girls and women. Even though national rate is low, there are regions with high prevalence rate.
Top 10 countries which practice female genital mutilation. Female genital mutilation outlawed in sudan the new york. Now 18 african countries have banned it, although laws are patchily observed. Just one year ago today my second book on female genital mutilation fgm was published. In these countries, people are protective of their culture and some of the traditions. Unicef, coordinated strategy to abandon female genital mutilationcutting in one generation, 2007, unicef, new york. Female genital mutilation fgm, also known as female genital cutting fgc in nigeria accounts for the most female genital cuttingmutilation fgmc cases worldwide. In encouraging a proactive governmental response to the practice, the book places it firmly in a human rights and legal framework. Female genital mutilation has been documented in 30 countries, mainly in africa, as well as in the middle east and asia. It mainly affects babies and girls from a few months to 14 years of age. The practice is also found in pockets of europe and in australia and north america. Fgm is performed in unhygienic conditions with razor blades, knives or broken glass.
Fgmc refers to all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female organs for non. Nearly universal in a few african countries, fgm is practiced by various groups in. Guinea, djibouti, and egypt also have more than 90% of their women between the same ages going for circumcision. These countries include kenya, somalia, sudan and ethiopia. Unicef, the dynamics of social change towards abandonment of female genital mutilationcutting in five african countries, 2010, unicef, italy. Fgm is often seen as a practice isolated to north african countries and some in the. It occurs mainly in countries along a belt stretching from senegal in west africa to somalia in east africa and to yemen in the middle east, but it is also practised in some parts of southeast asia. The world health organisation estimates about 100 million women and girls throughout the world who have been subjected to mutilation and approximately two million girls. Female genital mutilation world health organization. Genital mutilation, a guide to laws and policies worldwide, zed books, 2000, p. African commission on human and peoples rights african commission, the enforcement body of the african charter on human and peoples rights, has expressly noted the persistence of traditional practices that are harmful to women and children in some african countries such as female genital mutilation. The notes will be updated occasionally, and will i hope serve as an introduction to most of the issues arising in the eradication of fgm, in both lowresource and more structured settings. Female genital mutilation fgm is the cutting or removal of external female genitalia.
483 582 1168 402 27 317 187 619 1041 185 1192 764 1351 983 1161 978 835 844 1035 920 1266 247 368 1115 403 774 3 306 155 1354 1434 530 658 121 455 720 542 164 83 80 1294 318 830 518 189