We need to talk about…. FGM – Female Genital Mutilation

I know, it’s not a pleasant topic to raise, but as a matter of fact, more than 3 million girls are at risk of being subject to FGM every year. More than 200 million girls and women alive today have already undergone some form of FGM.

The practice is mostly practiced in the western, eastern and north-eastern regions of Africa, and in some countries in Asia and the Middle-East (a total of 30 countries).

Contrary to what many probably think, FGM is a cultural practice, not a religious one. No religious scrips prescribe this practice. What is a fact is that it is a way to control girls, women and their sexuality. It is grounded in deep-rooted inequality between the sexes, and represents the most extreme form of discrimination of women and girls.

Depending on the type of FGM (there are 4 types), the female genitals are mutilated/damaged to various degrees for non-medical reasons, which in most cases leads to various health problems, and of course pain during sexual intercourse.

The procedure has both immediate complications and long-term complications, ranging from severe pain, excessive bleeding, problems urinating, painful menstruations (difficulty in passing menstrual blood), scar tissue and complications during childbirth. The procedure can also lead to psychological problems, like depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

What is also disturbing is that some women find out that they have been subject to FGM as adults, having no recollection of it happening. The practice is usually carried out on young girls between infancy and adolescence (up to 15 years), while most are most likely carried out when the girl is between 2 and 4 years, or between 7 and 12 years old.

Most of the FGM is performed by traditional practitioners, under unhygienic conditions, with non-sterile instruments (knives, razorblades). In recent times, more health care providers are performing FGM, about 52 million per year, due to the belief that it is safer when medicalized. Despite the fact that it might reduce the risk of immediate severe infections, the procedure is still the same, and just as harmful for the girl.

Internationally the practice of FGM is recognized as a violation of the human rights of girls and women, a person’s right to health, security and physical integrity, as well as the right to be free from torture, and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. It also violated the right to life, as the procedure in some cases end by death of the girl.

WHO has been working for a long time to support a holistic health sector response to FGM prevention and care. WHO also collects evidence to improve the understanding of FGM, to better develop means to end this harmful practice.

With more than 200 million girls and women who already have undergone FGM, and another 3 million girls at risk every year, this is a global problem.

In European countries, health care staff are trained to discover already performed FGM, and to inform parents that the practice is illegal in Europe. They risk both heavy fines and jail time if they subject their daughters to FGM. Health care personnel can also inform other juridical instances if they suspect the parents will bring their daughter(s) to their country of origin to perform FGM, so they will be prevented to leave Europe with their child(ren).

European countries also offer post-FGM support to women, like reconstructive surgery, pre-natal follow up, C-section, psychological therapy, among other things.

The international day against FGM is 6 February. Let’s hope that one day this day can rather be The international day of the death of the practice of FGM.

You can read more here (including an overview of the 4 types of FGM):

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/female-genital-mutilation