Bloggers Unite : FGM
Female Genital Mutilation is internationally recognized as a violation of human rights, and many countries have put in place policies and legislation to ban it.
In 1999, the Word Health Organization estimated these numbers:
- 97% of Egyptian women[= 29 million] have undergone Female Genital Mutilation
- 98% of Djibouti women [= 250,000] have undergone Female Genital Mutilation
- 98% of Somali women [= 5 million] have undergone Female Genital Mutilation
- 25% of Mauritanian women [= 750,000] have undergone Female Genital Mutilation
Female genital mutilation has been documented in 28 countries in Africa and in several countries in Asia and the Middle East. Some forms of the practice have also been reported from other countries, including among certain ethnic groups in Central and South America. There is also evidence of increasing numbers of girls and women living outside their place of origin, including in North America and western Europe, who have undergone or may be at risk of undergoing female genital mutilation.WHO is working on several fronts to contribute to the elimination of female genital mutilation. International and national advocacy is important. Together with ten other UN agencies WHO has developed a new Interagency Statement on Eliminating Female Genital Mutilation (PDF) that will be launched in early 2008.
Why is FGM any different to the circumcision of boys?
The degree of cutting in female circumcision is anatomically much more extensive [than in male circumcision]. The male equivalent of clitoridectomy (in which all or part of the clitoris is removed) would be the amputation of most of the penis. The male equivalent of infibulation (which involves not only clitoridectomy, but the removal or closing off of the sensitive tissue around the vagina) would be removal of all the penis, its roots of soft tissue, and part of the scrotal skin.Not only do the young girls have to endure the pain of surgery on the most delicate and sensitive tissues without anesthesia, but also live their entire lives with the consequences of this ritual mutilation. Complications include cysts and abscesses, keloid scar formation, damage to the urethra resulting in urinary incontinence, dyspareunia (painful sexual intercourse) and sexual dysfunction and difficulties with childbirth. In the longer term, women may suffer feelings of incompleteness, anxiety and depression.
FGM is happening today, to a female child in a dirty room with non-sterile instruments. She is being held by the women in her family as she undergoes this beastly practice. She may die of infection or bleed to death. She will never be the same . . .
Tags:
4 comments:
I can't even imagine the pain of such a "procedure". That it continues today is heart wrenching.
@connie-This is the most beastly practice I can name. Being stoned to death would be better than this.
I can think of nothing worse for a woman than this. Much less a girl. It makes me sick to think about it. To think that it happens in our modern day world is well....unthinkable.
Thanks for sharing this information for the sake of awareness.
Peace,
Mimi
This has been a subject close to my heart, ever since reading a blog in French, written by a young woman of Senegalese descent living in Paris, who was subjected to FGM as a small child. She started blogging when she decided to go for reconstructive surgery which is offered by some surgeons.
I spent most of the first half of last year translating her blog so that it would reach a wider audience. The translation is on my own blog. I hesitate to give the link so as not to gain self-publicity, but if you do want to read it, there is a link at the top right to Papillon's blog.
It is well worth a read because it demonstrates quite vividly the psychological scars it leaves which are rarely mentioned. Papillon herself has stopped writing (a shame because she is very articulate). I am hopeful though, that another will follow her footsteps.
A young woman at university in England approached me some months ago, and in a few weeks' time she too will be visiting Dr Foldes in Paris, accompanied by a blog "friend" of mine who lives in Paris. All the hard work of translation has been made worthwhile by this one thing.
Sorry, this was rather a long comment, but as I said at the beginning, it is a subject close to my heart.
Post a Comment