What is Female Genital Mutilation?
Types of Types of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM):
Type 1: Clitoridectomy: The clitoris, a tiny, sensitive organ found at the apex of the vaginal opening, is partially or completely removed. The clitoral hood, which covers the clitoris, may also be removed in some situations.
Type 2: Excision: This procedure comprises the partial or complete excision of the clitoris and the inner labia (vaginal lips). The outer labia may also be removed during the operation. The leftover tissue is frequently sewn together, leaving a tiny gap for urine and menstrual flow.
Type 3: Infibulation (also known as Pharaonic circumcision): This is the most severe form of FGM. It involves the removal of the clitoris and inner labia, followed by the cutting of the outer labia. After that, the remaining skin is stitched together, leaving a small space for urine and menstrual flow. This practice results in the formation of scar tissue that narrows the vaginal opening, often leading to significant health complications during childbirth and sexual intercourse.
Type 4: Unclassified: This category encompasses various other harmful practices, including pricking, piercing, incising, or scraping the genital area. It can also involve any other form of intentional injury to the female genitalia.
Consequences of FGM
FGM has immediate repercussions such as extreme pain and bleeding, shock, trouble passing urine, infections, harm to surrounding genital tissue, and, in some cases, death. Significant bleeding can result in haemorrhagic shock, neurogenic shock as a consequence of pain & trauma, as well as infection and septicaemia.
Almost all women who have had FGM suffer from pain and bleeding as a result of the surgery. The operation itself is traumatic because the girls are restrained. The risk and problems of FGM grow with the kind of FGM, and infibulations are more severe and common.
"The pain inflicted by FGM does not stop with the initial procedure, but frequently continues as ongoing torture throughout a woman's life," said UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Manfred Nowak.
Women who have experienced FGM face a variety of long-term repercussions, including physical, sexual, and psychological anguish during and after the cutting.
Chronic pain, chronic pelvic infections, the development of cysts, abscesses, and vaginal ulcers, excessive scar tissue formation, infection of the reproductive system, diminished sexual enjoyment, and psychological repercussions such as post-traumatic stress disorder can all occur in women.
Urinary and menstrual issues, infertility, subsequent surgery (defibulation and reinfibulation), and painful sexual intercourse are additional hazards associated with infibulations. Sexual intercourse is only possible once the infibulation has been opened, either surgically or through penetrative sexual intercourse. As a result, during the first few weeks after sexual initiation, sexual intercourse is frequently uncomfortable, and the male partner may also feel pain and problems.
When the baby is born, the scar tissue may rip or the entrance must be sliced to allow the baby to come out. Women in some ethnic cultures are frequently sewed up again after childbirth to make them "tight" for their spouse (reinfibulation). A woman's genitalia suffers from severe scar tissue as a result of such cutting and restitching.
A WHO multi-country study conducted in six African nations found that women who had undergone FGM had considerably elevated chances of adverse events during childbirth, and that genital cutting in mothers has a deleterious impact on their newborn offspring. According to the report, FGM kills an additional one to two babies for every 100 deliveries.
Why is FGM still practiced?
A variety of variables contribute to the practice's continuance. FGM, however, is a reflection of profoundly established gender inequality in every society where it happens.
Some cultures regard it as a rite of passage. Others utilise it to either inhibit or ensure a girl's chastity. FGM is not sanctioned by Islam or Christianity, yet it is sometimes used to legitimise it.
Where FGM is prevalent, communities may consider it a requirement for marriage or inheritance. This makes quitting the practise tough for parents. Families that do not participate risk being shunned, and their daughters may become ineligible for marriage.
How is FGM a human rights violation?
FGM, in whatever form, is a violation of basic human rights norms.
FGM is a violation of the principles of equality and non-discrimination based on gender. It is a violation of the right to be free of torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. It breaches the right to the best health possible, the right to physical integrity, and the rights of the child. It even infringes the right to life in the worst circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)?
The non-medical removal of external female genitalia or other harm to the female genital organs is known as FGM. It is a violation of girls' and women's human rights.
2. Why is FGM practiced?
FGM is a complex tradition rooted in cultural, social, and sometimes religious beliefs. It's often considered necessary for a girl's proper marriage, social acceptance, and preservation of family honor. Misunderstandings about hygiene, purity, and aesthetic ideals can also play a role.
3. What are the health risks related with FGM?
FGM can lead to immediate complications like severe pain, bleeding, and infection, and long-term problems such as urinary complications, menstrual problems, sexual complications, increased childbirth risks, and psychological consequences.
4. Where is FGM practiced?
FGM is carried out in over 30 countries., mainly in Africa, parts of the Middle East, Asia, and among diaspora communities worldwide.
5. Is FGM linked to religion?
FGM predates most major religions and is not prescribed by any religious text. Some communities believe it has religious backing, but no religion mandates the practice. Religious leaders worldwide have denounced the practice.
6. What is being done to end FGM?
Many organizations, governments, and communities worldwide are working to end FGM. Awareness campaigns, community-level interventions, legislative actions, and educational programs are some of the strategies employed.
7. Can FGM be reversed?
Some types of FGM can be surgically reversed to a degree, such as deinfibulation in the case of Type 3. However, full restoration of the female genitalia's form and function is not always possible. Psychological healing is also a significant part of the recovery process for survivors.