Female genital mutilationcutting in africa odukogbe translational. 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 mutilation1 fgm is internationally recognized as a. The report lists 29 countries in africa and the middle east where mutilation is commonly practiced. There are ten countries where this involves 75% or more of the female population. Female genital mutilation fgm, also known as female genital cutting or female circumcision, refers to the partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for cultural, religious, or other nonmedical reasons. Female genital mutilation in children presenting to australian. 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. 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.
As early as the 17th century, christian missionaries and colonial administrations in africa attempted to prevent. The practice violates human rights and impairs the health of girls and women. 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. In order of decreasing estimated percentage of girls mutilated.
Collaboration between african and european countries on fgmc research was evident. 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. Often referred to as excision, this is the partial or total removal of the. Women in subsaharan africa are especially affected by. Female genital mutilation world health organization. Permission is granted to copy, distribute andor modify this document under the terms of the gnu free documentation license, version 1. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled gnu free documentation license. Kenyan cutter says female genital mutilation is her. The practice of female genital mutilation is primarily occurring in africa, middle east and small communities in asia committee on bioethics, 2010, p. Female genital mutilation who regional office for africa. The african commission on human and peoples rights african commission.
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. 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. Unit female genital mutilation study steering committee. A sizeable body of evidence has developed over the past three decades on the direct health impacts of fgmc. This study will describe female genital mutilation in kenya and alternative ways of encouraging abandonment of female genital mutilation in kenya. Female genital mutilation has no health benefits, is harmful to the health of women and girls, violates womens human. It is a procedure that involves partial or completely removing the external females genitalia or other injury to the female. The first mention of male and female circumcision appears in writings by a greek geographer who visited egypt around 25 b. Thirty countries worldwide are affected by the issue of female genital mutilation utzbilling and kentenich, 2009, p. Fgmc is concentrated in a swath of countries from the atlantic coast to the horn of. Africa, with wide variations in the percentage of girls and women cut, both. Female genital mutilationcutting fgmc is a traditional practice in which the external female genitalia is partially or totally incised or excised for a non. Female genital mutilation fgm, also known as female genital cutting fgc in nigeria accounts for the most female genital cuttingmutilation fgmc cases worldwide.
Fgm secretly happening in south africa africa witness. 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. It is a cultural practice thought to have been established centuries ago, though its origins appear to have been lost in the past. Impact of female genital mutilation on the millennium goals scielo. The first federal prosecution of female genital mutilation has women in the us sharing own stories. Female genital mutilationcutting fgmc is a harmful traditional practice with severe health complications, deeply rooted in many subsaharan african countries. African countries that practice female genital mutilation. Female genital cuttingmutilation in africa sciencedirect. Female genital mutilation fgm occurs in many parts of the world, especially in africa. 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.
This file is licensed under the creative commons attributionshare alike 3. Knowledge, attitudes and practices of female genital. The practices is customarily a family tradition that the young female of the age 015 would experience. Bibliometric analysis of literature on female genital mutilation.
Female genital mutilationcutting in africa article pdf available in translational andrology and urology 62. Female genital mutilation is classified into 4 major types. However, egypt has the highest number of women who have undergone fgm with a total of 27. 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. For example, in east africa, where the strongest concentration of population in the world that practices fgm is located, has a strong muslim basis. Is female genital mutilation only practiced in africa.
International efforts to eliminate it also have a long history. Fgm re mains a pressing human rights and a public health issue. Eight weeks or less after childbirth, venda women undergo a traditional ceremony called muthuso. 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 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. It mainly affects babies and girls from a few months to 14 years of age. As a minimum, part or all of each girls clitoris or the clitoral hood is surgically removed. Article pdf available in african journal of reproductive health 193. 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. Health consequences of female genital mutilationcutting. 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. This leaves them with reduced or no sexual feeling. Kenyan girls fight back against genital mutilation guardian investigations duration.
Female genital mutilation cutting fgmc continues to be a threat to womens and girls health and human rights globally. What would be a good picture to draw for the term connection. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in. Its also known as female circumcision or cutting, and by other terms, such as sunna, gudniin, halalays, tahur, megrez and khitan, among others. 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. To relate the female genital mutilation as a negative factor for the. Evidence to end fgmc is led by the population council, nairobi in partnership with the africa coordinating centre for the abandonment. In subsaharan africa, female genital mutilation is a.
Geographic variation of female genital mutilation and. In uganda, fgm is practised especially in the eastern part of the country. The practice is found in africa, asia and the middle east, and within communities from countries in which fgm is common. Female genital mutilation in south africa africlaw. 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. 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. 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. Prohibition of female genital act 5 mutilation act 2010. Not only in africa, female genital mutilation is practiced in asia too. Pdf female genital mutilation or female circumcision is a worldwide problem, though it is. There are more than million victims of female genital mutilation in the world. Female genital mutilation in africa new 2016 youtube.
Health impacts of female genital mutilationcutting. 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. The objective of this study is to perform a first evaluation of the magnitude of the health consequences of fgmc in the gambia. Female genital mutilationcutting gmc is a destructive, invasive procedure that is usually performed on girls before puberty.
Pdf download female genital mutilation in africa free. True story female genital mutilation in afar, ethiopia duration. Somalia is the leading country in fgm with 98% of women between the ages of 15 and 49 years undergoing the practice. My hands were tied with a rope and two strong women held my legs apart. 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. A large number of bohra muslim women in india and pakistan are being genitally mutilated in secrecy. It is a traditional practice thatfor those who support its continuationis considered to be a. Female genital mutilation in africa fgm is usually motivated by cultural or religious belief systems, and is more common in some regions of africa. 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. This thesis examined female genital mutilation fgm in africa and the global. Pdf an overview of female genital mutilation in nigeria. Female genital mutilation fgm which involves alteration of the female genitalia for nonmedical grounds is prevalent.
Fgmc is common in africa with varying prevalence in different countries. Nearly universal in a few african countries, fgm is practiced by various groups in. 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 mutilation cutting fgm c is a traditional practice in which the external female genitalia is partially or totally incised or excised for a nontherapeutic reason, usually without the consent of the individual. Female genital cutting fgc, also called female genital circumcision or. Orgasms are sometimes impossible to experience later in life. Guinea, djibouti, and egypt also have more than 90% of their women between the same ages going for circumcision.
511 604 958 376 184 997 555 321 954 438 1323 134 1012 1252 585 407 433 421 151 818 349 259 139 1073 12 1076 622 908 1087 764 553 1283 448 908 1265 1464 303 1430 680 253 735