While societies in most countries around the world struggle to achieve gender equality, in a few dozen states in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, women and girls do not even have the right to own their bodies. Annually, 3 million girls are at risk of partial or total removal of external genitalia – female genital mutilation, or other injury, for completely non-medical reasons. Moreover, over 200 million women alive have been subject to this practice, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
In 2012, the UN General Assembly designated February 6th as the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). This is a movement to uphold the rights of women and their bodies as well as the protection of their physical health which can be seriously affected later in life due to this practice, also known as female genital cutting. We discussed this topic more broadly with several international experts. Check their insights below.
Key takeaways
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- Female genital mutilation (FGM) involves the partial or total removal of external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons (according to the WHO)
- FGM affects the development and progress of any nation. Women represent more than half of the population and whatever affects their wellbeing and development, affects the entire nation
- The international community has set a goal of eliminating FGM by 2030 which is a noble yet ambitious goal
- Deeply rooted in tradition and yet knowing it is illegal, with the intention of using women as an object of exchange in the future, local communities pay no heed to the well-being of girls
- FGM is a form of violence against women as well as an infringement of human rights. Some of the complications associated with FGM often have severe consequences for a woman’s physical, emotional, psychological and mental health.
What are the greatest consequences of FGM?
“There are many harmful consequences of FGM ranging from severe pain and hemorrhage to shock and even death. Fatal consequences have also been noted from the practice of using dry ground feces of horses or donkeys placed on the wound with the belief that they help in healing. Other immediate complications include retention of urine due to severe pain. Scar tissue, large swellings, and keloids are also common. Furthermore, FGM contributes to complications during pregnancy by delaying the second stage of labour during childbirth and can result in issues at first intercourse. The immense psychological and developmental impact should not be discounted either. For example, the education of girls is sometimes interrupted for long periods following the procedure as they take time to recover. Above all, FGM is a violation of the body’s integrity and the rights of girls and women.”
“Against the backdrop of this phenomenon, FGM is one of the deep-rooted cultural practices that violates the rights and dignity of womanhood. On account of the fact that it is often done without the proper and informed consent of the people involved, it expropriates their will and so constitutes a form of discrimination against women. Subjecting a person to health risks in the absence of medical necessity is a violation of that person’s right to health. Hence, FGM is a form of violence against women as well as an infringement of human rights. Some of the complications associated with FGM often have severe consequences for a woman’s physical, emotional, psychological, and mental health. But even in the absence of complications, where FGM results in the removal of bodily tissue necessary for the enjoyment of a satisfying and safe sex life, a woman’s right to the “highest attainable standards of physical and mental health” has been compromised. FGM also affects the development and progress of any nation, women occupy a greater percentage or part of humanity, and whatever affects their wellbeing and development, also affects the development and progress of any nation.”
“FGM involves the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons, according to the World Health Organization. The practice is one of the gravest forms of human rights violations on women and girls globally. Some of the consequences of FGM include severe bleeding (hemorrhage) which may result in death, urinary problems (painful urination, urinary tract infections), scar tissue and keloid as well as complications during childbirth and the increased risk of newborn deaths.”
“The lack of compassion towards respecting every representative of mankind and the complete defiance and control of nature’s creation is a common thread across the world. Being a mapper for the UN on a project for Tanzania Development Trust, one of the key measures taken was to immediately map roads and villages in rural Tanzania to create ease of access to rescue girls and bring them to safe houses as they were nearing the cutting season or whilst being taken for the procedure. Many girls have had to flee their homes in the middle of the night carrying nothing with them to save themselves from this trauma. Deeply rooted in tradition and yet knowing it is illegal, with the intention of using women as an object of exchange in the future, local communities pay no heed to girls’ well-being and conduct this procedure that is detrimental for health and integrity, crushing a woman’s spirit of being alive only for the cause of patriarchy, causing immense pain to the point of even losing one’s life with medical complications and suffering.”
“Women who have experienced FGM and have lived to tell their experiences have described it as a physically and mentally traumatic experience, caused by pain of being held down, rendered voiceless and powerless, while the act is performed, and after it is performed. The effects of genital mutilation become even worse when it is downplayed to maintain the existence of culture and satisfy family values.”
What should the international community do to end FGM by 2030?
“The international community has set a goal of eliminating FGM by 2030. This goal is a noble, yet ambitious one. It will require the implementation of programs that draw on the full support of different components of society, and that rely on and respect the particulars of cultural contexts as FGM is a deeply rooted harmful practice that is performed as a value of the communities where it occurs.”
“Ending Female Genital Mutilation requires individual approaches and commitment, international organizations have geared efforts towards ending these practices, but its traditional and cultural affiliation has made it pretty difficult to arrest this problem. Although speaking from some of the strategies that have proven very effective in reducing this practice in Nigeria and Africa at large, there is a need for the international community to imbibe and adopt some of these strategies: the initiation of strong, formidable, and recognized community structures in the areas where FGM is practiced; an organized community-led monitoring system in the areas where this practice still exists; banning the practice of FGM at country levels; developing a new adaptable system that spells out the sanctions associated with the practice; strengthening CBOs, CSOs, FBOs, and other community development groups to respond to cases associated with the practice of FGM.”
“Ending FGM by 2030 will contribute towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality. In order to make this a reality, the international community must invest in those organizations working to end FGM, including grassroots organizations; provide funding in collective action through galvanizing youth power to end FGM globally; advocate for the enactment of national laws and policies that prohibit the practice of FGM; invest in current data to inform programming.”
“UNFPA estimates an additional 2 million girls are projected to be at risk of undergoing female genital mutilation by 2030. The international community within their freedom and power need to know they have the ability to change and bring the spirit of harmony and relief. Are we being humane? Let’s ask ourselves this question. Is it humane to put a woman’s life at risk and also make her an object of shame and denial? On what grounds should a tradition be given the license to continue to do what they do even while realizing the traumatic base has been set for the woman to conduct her life in those norms of abuse and sacrifice. Let us ask ourselves: are we being compassionate and if it is too big a word to ask for, let’s set clear grounds based on the justice that laws will provide to put an end to FGM. Organizations such as Hope for Girls and Women understand the nuance and sensitivity of changing a traditional mindset and work whilst making sure girls are saved from FGM in this entire process.”
“Although there has been increased awareness of the risks of FGM, there is a need to upscale the efforts in the affected countries as well as the international community to bring zero tolerance to FGM. At the international level, countries that have not put effective laws and programs against FGM in place should be held accountable for each victim of FGM.”
What is your message on the International Day of Zero Tolerance to FGM?
“Current interventions by UNFPA, UNICEF, donors, and other agencies and organizations are highly appreciated. However, more efforts are encouraged to improve government action in the affected countries, donors, and all anti-FGM activists, who need to be engaged and motivated to participate in the eradication of this practice. Unfortunately, in many affected communities, Covid-19 has had negative impacts and caused setbacks to FGM abandonment movements and encouraged the circumcisers to move from house to house to cut these girls before they return to school. Parents, women’s groups, youth and adolescents along with community leaders should protect vulnerable populations and stop FGM in their communities and societies.”
“Female Genital Mutilation is a violation of human rights, an act of violation which must be addressed immediately. The International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation is an avenue and open ground to discuss lasting solutions to this inhuman practice. We can observe a decline in this inhuman practice in most of the countries where this act is in practice but this is no excuse to stop action. To arrest this harmful practice, there is a need for stronger international involvement, country leaders, and community leaders to work in synergy to address this practice.”
“This International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation should raise awareness that gender-based abuse including FGM still exists. In so many cultures, it is an unspoken norm, dictated by a suppressed child’s guardian by different influencers including the family and the society. While the voices of the victims may not be heard, I call on the voices of the neighbors, friends of friends, police, policymakers, and the international community at large to raise their voices louder until this act is completely eradicated.”
“Ending FGM is a collective responsibility. Invest don’t rest, one day, a free FGM world will be a reality!”
