An introduction to the demographics of fgm, including prevalence rates, is a necessary antecedent for understanding the cultural rationales for this widespread practice. Reliable evidence about the effect of female genital mutilation fgm on obstetric outcome is scarce. Fgm is traditionally associated with a swathe of african countries, but the study highlights growing. Looking at female circumcision from a literary perspective and how writers are fighting. African countries that practice female genital mutilation. Somalia is the leading country in fgm with 98% of women between the ages of 15 and 49 years undergoing the practice. World woefully underestimates female genital mutilation. Between 100 million and 140 million women and girls are thought to be living with the consequences of female genital mutilation, according to the. It has no health benefits and harms girls and women in many ways. The practice is predominant in the middle east, asia, and africa. As of 20, according to a unicef report, 24 african countries have legislations or decrees against fgmc practice. Female genital mutilation cutting fgmc 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. The goal is to set up a mechanism for african countries to report regularly on. A guide to laws and policies worldwide, edited by anika.
Female genital mutilationcutting fgmc is a traditional practice with severe health consequences for girls and women. Fgmc is common in africa with varying prevalence in different countries, though. Joint programme on accelerating the abandonment of female genital mutilationcutting and. Health, general womens issuesgender studies family and marriage female circumcision laws, regulations and rules. Although fgm appears to be decreasing in one of the main regions where it is practised and much positive. African countries in the subsaharan and northeastern regions, and. Study on female genital mutilation related laws in select african union countries, undertaken. London thomson reuters foundation there is a growing global drive to eradicate female genital mutilation fgm in a generation. Female genital mutilation a matter of human rights. Eight weeks or less after childbirth, venda women undergo a traditional ceremony called muthuso. Government fact sheet on female genital mutilation or.
Fgmc is now the preferred acronym used by unicef to refer to female genital mutilation cutting. The 2019 report card for the fight to end female genital. The africa coordinating centre for the abandonment of female genital mutilation cutting accaf, with support from the population council, sought to synthesize the evidence on the health impacts of fgmc, identify recommended interventions, and compile and analyse the existing reference materials. Female genital mutilation fgm is a term used to describe various traditional practices that involve the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia for cultural and traditional reasons in many african societies. Fgm is an unsafe, unsterile procedure that is taking place in many foreign countries around the world including egypt, the sudan, the horn of africa. Female genital mutilation in africa new 2016 youtube. Fgmc is common in africa with varying prevalence in different countries, though the incidence is. Her book woman at point zero 1975 is a fictionalised version of. A campaign against female genital mutilation in kapchorwa, uganda. Experience from ibibio, akwa ibom state of nigeria. Unicef estimated in 2016 that 200 million women living today in 30 countries27 african countries, indonesia, iraqi. Africas first female president bans fgm on her last day.
Health impacts of female genital mutilationcutting. Female genital mutilation cuttingfgmc remains a pervasive harmful cultural and traditionalpractice. Alisklamp advanced male circumcision device india 4,433,752 views. Sunna mutilation in which the prepuce the clitoral covering or hood is removed, along with part or all of the clitoris. Interest in legislative reform to support the abandonment of fgmc stems from a recognition.
Understanding and addressing violence against women female genital mutilation female genital mutilation1 fgm is internationally recognized as a violation of the human rights of girls and women, reflecting deeprooted inequality between the sexes. Fgmc is common in africa with varying prevalence in different countries. The other countries in africa are cameroon 20%, central african republic. Female genital mutilation has historically been confined to countries of cultural origin within the african sphere. Why do some cultures practice female genital mutilation. Female genital mutilation and the influence of traditional cultural practices against women. This book is a testament to the heroic victories being won by a number of countries against female genital mutilation. Female genital mutilation fgm refers to all procedures involving partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for nonmedical reasons. When katie finally returns from africa she needs all of sophias.
There are four classifications of female genital mutilation. Some forms of female genital mutilation have also been reported in other countries, including among certain ethnic groups in south america. Spam or selfpromotional the list is spam or selfpromotional. Female genital mutilation who regional office for africa. Types i, ii and iii have been documented in 28 countries in africa. While the exact number of girls and women worldwide who have undergone fgm remains unknown, at least 200 million girls and women have. Female genital mutilation fgm, also called female circumcision, is the ritualistic removal of all or part of a girls genitalia for nonmedical reasons. A black african feminist theory to examine female genital.
Incorrect book the list contains an incorrect book please specify the title of the book. Madina barely into adolescence was subjected to one of the most severe forms of female genital mutilation fgm a practice long carried out in many african countries. In what countries does female genital cutting take place besides africa. Female genital mutilation fgm is of growing concern to health care providers in the united states and canada as more women from countries where the procedure is practiced emigrate to north america. It then reports on each country its prevalence and governmental measures for its eradication. Who collaborative prospective study in six african countries. Female genital mutilation fgm in africa female genital mutilation fgm is a barbaric practice which involves all procedures, partial or whole, removal of the external genitalia or simply put, injury to the female sexual organs.
Three important lessons from a new book on female genital cutting. Factors hindering the eradication of female genital. It is usually performed in infancy or early childhood as a rite of passage but is performed on teens and adult women as well. Who study group on female genital mutilation and obstetric outcome1, banks e, meirik o, farley t, akande o, bathija h, ali m. According to the world health organization who, over. Female genital mutilation affects far more countries than previously thought, a new study says. Female genital mutilation fgm is the partial or total removal of some part of the female genitalia using scissors, special knives, razor blades, pieces of glass, or scalpels. The psychological, social, and relational impact of female genital mutilation was assessed in 66 circumcised women originating from five different african countries. I wanted to research more about the practice and gain more knowledge on it because as a community worker, there is a possibility to come across. When it comes to female genital cutting, headlines provoke and call out.
Female genital mutilation cutting fgmc is a traditional practice in which the external female genitalia is partially or totally incised or excised for a nontherapeutic reason, usually without. Female genital mutilation in south africa africlaw. Furthermore, there are an estimated 3 million girls at risk of undergoing female genital mutilation every year. What is female genital mutilation and where does it happen. Adult circumcision aliskamp by dr rizwan khan, pune, mumbai, india, phimosis foreskin treatment duration. In some countries of africa and asia such as egypt, kenya, sudan. Female genital mutilation in different countries of africa usually takes place from ages 1 to 9 in horn africa and from ages 8 to 14 in great sahara and west africa karmaker et al.
At least 200 million girls and women belonging to 30 countries alive today have underwent female genital mutilation. In ghana and benin, for example, fgm has been prohibited and. West african countries where the practice is linked to islam. 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. Female genital mutilation, also known as female genital cutting and female circumcision, is the ritual cutting or removal of some or all of the external female genitalia.
Fgm is often seen as a practice isolated to north african countries and some in the. Twentytwo of the 28 african countries in which female genital mutilation fgm is practiced have adopted legislations prohibiting it. It occurs mainly in countries along a belt stretching from senegal in west africa to somalia in east africa and to yemen in the middle east, but it is also practised in some parts of southeast asia. Female genital mutilation world health organization. It found that women with fgm are significantly more likely than those without fgm to have adverse obstetric outcomes.
Since fgm is almost always carried out on minors, it is also a violation of the rights of children. This unique volume focuses on the psychosexual and social effects of female genital mutilation, an ancient, deeply entrenched custom saturating the larger part of africa. The majority of girls are cut before they turn 15 years old see figure 1. Why do some cultures practice female genital mutilation fgm. But around the world, more than 200 million women and girls have undergone fgm, most of them before the age of 15, according to the world health organization.
This study examines the effect of different types of fgm on obstetric outcome. Case studies from nine african countries where female genital cutting fgc is traditionally and currently performed evaluate the impact of international efforts to. How is the world doing in the campaign to stop female genital mutilation. Female genital mutilation has been documented in 30 countries, mainly in africa, as well as in the middle east and asia. There is a reason why it is no longer called female circumcision and is now being referred to as female genital mutilation. Guinea, djibouti, and egypt also have more than 90% of their women between the same ages going for circumcision.
Fgm the problem of female genital mutilation in islam. An analytical approach to female genital mutilation in. Female genital mutilation, also referred to as fgm, is one of the biggest problems many women worldwide face. Government fact sheet on female genital mutilation or cutting fgmc skill list by country. Understanding and addressing violence against women. Read download female genital mutilation in africa pdf. Female genital mutilation fgm is a traditional practice in some african countries. Unicef welcomes this valuable exposition of the steps and processes involved in enacting legislation and policies to end this abuse of girls and womens rights.
Worldwide who have undergone female genital mutilation remains unknown. Who female genital mutilation and obstetric outcome. This is found most commonly in west african countries. Prevalence of female genital mutilation by country. 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 within and across countries. Female circumcision is central to african traditional religion and entails transgression of fundamental rights. The world health organisation who estimates that more than two million females undergo some form of genital mutilation every year. Data collected in 2015 from household surveys show female genital mutilation exists in yemen, iraq, and indonesia and in some places in south america such as colombia, india, malaysia, oman, saudi arabia, and. Fighting female genital mutilation in africa egypt al.
Inappropriate the list including its title or description facilitates illegal activity, or contains hate speech or ad hominem attacks on a fellow goodreads member or author. Pdf female genital mutilationcutting in africa researchgate. Female genital mutilation and the influence of traditional. This is called clitoridectomy, sunna, meaning removal of the clitoris in the tradition of the prophet mohammed. Societies are defined by their settings and practices and belief systems that make up the culture of a community of a society. While international and regional human rights instruments have recognized female genital mutilation cutting fgmc as one of the most prevalent forms of violence against women and girls, in many african states fgmc is a deeply entrenched cultural practice. Female genital mutilation of any type has been recognized as a harmful practise and is a violation of human rights. Fgmc refers to all procedures involving partialor total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female organs for nonmedical reasons. Female genital mutilation fgm, also known as female genital cutting fgc, is practiced in 30 countries in western, eastern, and northeastern africa, in parts of the middle east and asia, and within some immigrant communities in europe, north america and australia. Sirleafs executive order makes mali the only west african country that has yet to abolish fgm. Countries of the north have also adopted legal measures aimed at preventing the practice.
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