Female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM) is a deep-rooted cultural practice affecting an estimated 200 million women and girls. It is practiced in at least 25 African countries, as well as in parts of the Middle East and Asia and among immigrant populations around the world, The Conversation reports.
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“Justified” by cultural beliefs on the control of sexuality
FGM involves the partial or total removal of women’s external genitalia and is considered a human rights violation. In 2012, the UN passed a resolution to ban it, but it is still practiced in around 30 countries.
The practice is often ‘justified’ by cultural beliefs about the control of female sexuality. FGM causes immediate and lifelong physical and psychological harm to girls and women, including severe pain, complications during childbirth, infection and trauma.
New research now reveals a devastating reality: FGM is one of the leading causes of death for girls and young women in countries where it is practiced.
FGM can lead to death from severe bleeding, infection, shock or obstructed labor. The study estimates that it causes about 44,000 deaths each year in the 15 countries where the research was done.
This equates to the death of a young woman or girl every 12 minutes. This makes it a more important cause of death in the countries studied than any other infection, excluding malaria and respiratory infections or tuberculosis.
In other words, it is a bigger cause than HIV/AIDS, measles, meningitis and many other well-known threats to the health of young women and girls in these countries.
Previous research has shown that FGM leads to severe pain, bleeding and infection. But tracking deaths directly caused by the practice has been almost impossible. This is largely due to the fact that FGM is illegal in many countries where it takes place and usually takes place in non-clinical settings without medical supervision.
Where is the worst crisis
The practice is particularly widespread in several African countries. In Guinea, data show that 97% of women and girls have undergone FGM, while in Mali, the figure stands at 83% and in Sierra Leone at 90%.
The high prevalence rates in Egypt, with 87% of women and girls affected, serves as a reminder that FGM is not limited to sub-Saharan Africa. Data from 15 African countries were analyzed for the study.
The age at which mutilation takes place varies significantly by country. In Nigeria, 93% of procedures are performed on girls under five.
By contrast, in Sierra Leone, most girls undergo the procedure between the ages of 10 and 14. In Chad, 11.2% of girls undergo FGM at the age of 0-4 years, 57.2% at 5-9 years and 30% at 10-14 years.
The scale is staggering: while armed conflicts in Africa caused an estimated 48,000 deaths per year between 1995 and 2015, research suggests that FGM leads to an estimated 44,000 deaths per year. This places FGM among the most serious public health problems facing these nations.
Beyond the numbers
Most FGM procedures are performed without anesthesia, adequate medical supervision or sterile equipment. Resulting complications can include severe bleeding, infection and shock. Even when not immediately fatal, the practice can lead to long-term health problems and increased risks during childbirth.
The impact extends beyond physical health. Survivors often face psychological trauma and social challenges. In many communities, FGM is deeply ingrained in cultural practices and linked to the prospect of marriage, making it difficult for families to resist pressure to continue the tradition.
FGM is not just a violation of human rights – it is a public health crisis that needs urgent attention.
Although progress has been made in some areas, with some communities abandoning the practice, research suggests that current efforts to combat FGM need to be drastically stepped up, and that eliminating FGM requires a multidimensional approach.
Community involvement and education key
Legal reforms are crucial – the practice remains legal in five of the 28 countries where it is most commonly used. However, laws alone are not enough. Community involvement, education and support for grassroots organizations are key to changing deeply ingrained cultural beliefs and practices.
Previous research has shown that both information campaigns and community-led initiatives can be effective.
For example, studies have documented reductions in rates of FGM as a result of increased access to social media in Egypt and the use of educational films that present different views on the practice.
The research emphasizes that it is not just about changing traditions, but about saving lives. Every year of delay means tens of thousands more preventable deaths. The findings suggest that eliminating FGM should be considered as urgent a priority as combating major infectious diseases. The lives of millions of girls and young women depend on it.
February 6, International Day of Zero Tolerance
The International Day of Zero Tolerance of Female Genital Mutilation is marked annually on February 6, and provides an opportunity to highlight progress and raise awareness to end this harmful practice, according to www.who.int
In 2012, the UN General Assembly designated February 6 as the International Day of Zero Tolerance of Female Genital Mutilation, with the aim of amplifying and targeting efforts to eliminate the practice.
Female genital mutilation encompasses all procedures that involve altering or damaging the female genital organs for non-medical reasons and is internationally recognized as a violation of the human rights, health and integrity of girls and women.
Girls who undergo FGM face short-term complications such as severe pain, shock, excessive bleeding, infection and difficulty urinating, as well as long-term consequences for their sexual and reproductive health and mental health.
UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus collectively reaffirm the commitment to work with countries and help stop this harmful practice that affects more than 230 million girls and women alive today.
This year, WHO will launch new, evidence-based guidelines on how to prevent and manage the health complications resulting from FGM.
Largest program to eliminate FGM
Since 2008, UNFPA, together with UNICEF, has been leading the largest global program to accelerate the elimination of female genital mutilation. Also since 2008, almost 7 million girls and women have accessed prevention and protection services.
In addition, 48 million people have made public declarations to abandon FGM, and 220 million people have been reached by media messages on the issue.
Over the past two years, nearly 12,000 grassroots organizations and 112,000 community and frontline workers have worked to effect change.
Types of FGM
Female genital mutilation is classified into 4 major types:
Type 1: This is the partial or total removal of the clitoral glans (the external and visible part of the clitoris, which is a sensitive part of the female genitals), and/or the prepuce/clitoral hood (the fold of skin surrounding the clitoral glans).
Type 2: This is the partial or total removal of the clitoral glans and the labia minora (the inner folds of the vulva), with or without removal of the labia majora (the outer folds of skin of the vulva).
Type 3: Also known as infibulation, this is the narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal. The seal is formed by cutting and repositioning the labia minora, or labia majora, sometimes through stitching, with or without removal of the clitoral prepuce/clitoral hood and glans.
Type 4: This includes all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, e.g., pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterizing the genital area.
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Female genital mutilation.
There are 4 types of female genital mutilation practices manifested in Africa.
