A sizeable body of evidence has developed over the past three decades on the direct health impacts of fgmc. Guinea, djibouti, and egypt also have more than 90% of their women between the same ages going for circumcision. The practice violates human rights and impairs the health of girls and women. Fgm re mains a pressing human rights and a public health issue.
Prohibition of female genital act 5 mutilation act 2010. It mainly affects babies and girls from a few months to 14 years of age. Female genital mutilationcutting in africa odukogbe translational. Female genital mutilation1 fgm is internationally recognized as a. However, the prevalence of fgm extends to some middle eastern, asian, australian, central american, and south american countries, but to a lesser degree. Female genital mutilation in south africa africlaw. Eight weeks or less after childbirth, venda women undergo a traditional ceremony called muthuso. There are more than million victims of female genital mutilation in the world. Nigeria, due to its large population, has the highest absolute number of female genital mutilation fgm worldwide, accounting for about onequarter of the estimated 115 million circumcised. Female genital mutilation has no health benefits, is harmful to the health of women and girls, violates womens human. Kenyan girls fight back against genital mutilation guardian investigations duration.
A large number of bohra muslim women in india and pakistan are being genitally mutilated in secrecy. To relate the female genital mutilation as a negative factor for the. As early as the 17th century, christian missionaries and colonial administrations in africa attempted to prevent. Often referred to as excision, this is the partial or total removal of the. Female genital mutilation cutting fgmc continues to be a threat to womens and girls health and human rights globally. Female genital mutilationcutting in africa article pdf available in translational andrology and urology 62. Impact of female genital mutilation on the millennium goals scielo. It is a traditional practice thatfor those who support its continuationis considered to be a.
Female genital mutilationcutting fgmc is the partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for cultural or other nontherapeutic reasons. There are ten countries where this involves 75% or more of the female population. 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. Female genital mutilation fgm and cutting is a subject of global interest, with many countries of the world still practicing it despite efforts by the who and other agencies to discourage the practice. About 20 million women and girls in nigeria have undergone female genital mutilation, 10% of the global total, according to a comprehensive report released on tuesday many nigerian girls are cut. International efforts to eliminate it also have a long history.
For example, in east africa, where the strongest concentration of population in the world that practices fgm is located, has a strong muslim basis. Female genital cuttingmutilation in africa sciencedirect. Female genital mutilation fgm is a procedure where the female genitals are deliberately cut, injured or changed, but theres no medical reason for this to be done. 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. Geographic variation of female genital mutilation and. The objective of this study is to perform a first evaluation of the magnitude of the health consequences of fgmc in the gambia. The practices is customarily a family tradition that the young female of the age 015 would experience. In addition, professionals need to be ready to intervene at any time because the practice violates the human rights of women and girls in the. Knowledge, attitudes and practices of female genital.
In subsaharan africa female genital mutilation is 516391 the term middle east begain with the europeans, to refer to the area around the persian gulf true or false whats a good example for the term scale. The first mention of male and female circumcision appears in writings by a greek geographer who visited egypt around 25 b. Collaboration between african and european countries on fgmc research was evident. Pdf an overview of female genital mutilation in nigeria. Female genital mutilation cutting fgmc is the partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for cultural or other nontherapeutic reasons. Female genital mutilation fgm, also known as female genital cutting and female circumcision, is the ritual cutting or removal of some or all of the external female genitalia. The practice is found in africa, asia and the middle east, and within communities from countries in which fgm is common. An act to provide for the prohibition of female genital mutilation, the offences, prosecution and punishment of offenders and the protection of victims as well as girls and women under threat of female genital mutilation and to provide for other related matters. Female genital mutilation is classified into 4 major types. This paper draws on household data to examine the prevalence of female genital mutilation fgm in senegal and the effectiveness of the countrys antifgm law in dealing with actual breaches and providing protection to the victims. Nearly universal in a few african countries, fgm is practiced by various groups in.
Female genital mutilation in africa fgm is usually motivated by cultural or religious belief systems, and is more common in some regions of africa. Female genital mutilation world health organization. Kenyan cutter says female genital mutilation is her livelihood this article is more than 6 years old margaret, who has put more girls through fgm. Health consequences of female genital mutilationcutting. My hands were tied with a rope and two strong women held my legs apart. This file is licensed under the creative commons attributionshare alike 3. It is a cultural practice thought to have been established centuries ago, though its origins appear to have been lost in the past. As a minimum, part or all of each girls clitoris or the clitoral hood is surgically removed. What would be a good picture to draw for the term connection. According to the world health organisation who, female genital mutilationcutting fgmc includes all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or injury to the female genital organs, for nontherapeutic reasons. Female genital mutilation, also referred to as fgm, is one of the biggest problems many women worldwide face. Female genital mutilationcutting fgmc is a harmful traditional practice with severe health complications, deeply rooted in many subsaharan african countries.
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. Orgasms are sometimes impossible to experience later in life. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in. Fgmc is concentrated in a swath of countries from the atlantic coast to the horn of. Health impacts of female genital mutilationcutting. Female genital mutilation fgm occurs in many parts of the world, especially in africa. Women in subsaharan africa are especially affected by. The african commission on human and peoples rights african commission. Understanding and addressing violence against women. Kenyan cutter says female genital mutilation is her. Female genital mutilation, also known as female circumcision, excision or genital cutting, comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injuries to the genital organs for nonmedical reasons, mostly carried out between infancy and age 15.
Female genital cutting fgc, also called female genital circumcision or. This study will describe female genital mutilation in kenya and alternative ways of encouraging abandonment of female genital mutilation in kenya. Bibliometric analysis of literature on female genital mutilation. Female genital mutilation who regional office for africa. 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. Female genital mutilationcutting gmc is a destructive, invasive procedure that is usually performed on girls before puberty. However, egypt has the highest number of women who have undergone fgm with a total of 27. African countries that practice female genital mutilation. Female genital mutilation fgm, also known as female genital cutting fgc in nigeria accounts for the most female genital cuttingmutilation fgmc cases worldwide. Is female genital mutilation only practiced in africa. Fgm the problem of female genital mutilation in islam. Article pdf available in african journal of reproductive health 193. Permission is granted to copy, distribute andor modify this document under the terms of the gnu free documentation license, version 1.
Fgmc is recognised internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women, constituting an extreme form of. The first federal prosecution of female genital mutilation has women in the us sharing own stories. The practice of female genital mutilation is primarily occurring in africa, middle east and small communities in asia committee on bioethics, 2010, p. Africa, with wide variations in the percentage of girls and women cut, both. Not only in africa, female genital mutilation is practiced in asia too. Its also known as female circumcision or cutting, and by other terms, such as sunna, gudniin, halalays, tahur, megrez and khitan, among others. In order of decreasing estimated percentage of girls mutilated. It is a procedure that involves partial or completely removing the external females genitalia or other injury to the female.
Female genital mutilationcutting fgmc is a traditional practice in which the external female genitalia is partially or totally incised or excised for a non. In subsaharan africa, female genital mutilation is a. This thesis examined female genital mutilation fgm in africa and the global. Pdf female genital mutilation or female circumcision is a worldwide problem, though it is. In uganda, fgm is practised especially in the eastern part of the country. Pdf download female genital mutilation in africa free. Female genital mutilation may be practiced in different cultures and religions, however, it is not supported by the written word or history of any of the participants. Female genital mutilation in children presenting to australian. Introduction female genital mutilation fgm is widespread in different parts of the world generally and in africa in particular, and is carried out for different reasons.
Female genital mutilation in africa new 2016 youtube. An africa witness investigation has found that one such practice is female genital mutilation fgm, which is secretly taking place in some migrant communities in south africa. Fgm secretly happening in south africa africa witness. Unit female genital mutilation study steering committee. Fgmc is common in africa with varying prevalence in different countries. 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. Thirty countries worldwide are affected by the issue of female genital mutilation utzbilling and kentenich, 2009, p. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled gnu free documentation license. True story female genital mutilation in afar, ethiopia duration. The africa coordinating centre for the abandonment of female genital mutilationcutting accaf, with support from the population council, sought to synthesize the evidence on the health impacts of fgmc, identify recommended interventions, and compile and analyse the existing reference materials.
1388 756 850 1020 108 1516 1219 50 1291 470 921 365 812 302 674 745 332 1160 869 1397 1094 1348 1492 1070 935 779 1489 823 935 809 985 421