This article has been written by our intern Zehra Mehdi, a law student from Unity Degree College.
ABSTRACT
Female genital mutilation (FGM) involves partial or complete removal of the external female genital organs or other injuries to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. This practice has no health benefits for girls and women. FGM can cause severe bleeding and urinary problems, cysts, infections, and birth complications, and may increase the risk of neonatal death. More than 200 million girls and women live in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where FGM is practised today. FGM is mainly performed on young girls from infancy to 15 years of age. FGM is a violation of the rights of girls and women. These methods also violate the human right to health, safety and physical integrity The right to life in case of death. There is evidence that health care providers are increasingly involved in this practice. This is called medicalization. The World Health Organization (WHO) opposes all forms of female genital mutilation and health professionals who practise female genital mutilation.
INTRODUCTION
Female circumcision (FGM), also known as female genital mutilation, female circumcision/cutting (FGM/C), and female circumcision is a ritual in which part or all of the external female genital organs are amputated or removed. This practice can be seen in many countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and overseas in countries where female genital mutilation is common. UNICEF estimates that in 2016, 200 million women in 30 countries including Indonesia, Iraqi Kurds, Yemen and 27 African countries experienced one or more FGM. It lasts from birth to puberty. In half of the countries for which national data are available, most girls are cut before the age of five. Procedures vary by country or ethnic group. This includes removal of the clitoral hood and clitoral glans, removal of the inner labia and removal of the inner and outer labia and closure of the vulva. In this last procedure, called an injection, a small hole is left for the passage of urine and menstruation. The vagina is open for intercourse and more open for childbirth.
The practise is rooted in gender inequality, attempts to control female sexuality, and notions of chastity, modesty, and beauty. It is initiated and practised primarily by women, which is both an honour and a fear that girls will face social exclusion if they do not circumcise their daughters and grandchildren.
COMPLICATIONS CAUSED BY FGM
FGM has no health benefits and harms girls and women in many ways. It involves the removal and destruction of healthy female reproductive tissue and interferes with the natural functioning of the body in girls and women. While all forms of female circumcision are associated with an increased risk of health complications, the risk is higher for more severe forms of female circumcision.
Immediate complications of FGM may include :
Severe pain,
Profuse bleeding,
Swelling of genital tissues,
Fever,
Infections such as tetanus,
Impaired wound healing,
Damage to surrounding genital tissues,
Urinary problems and
Death from shock.
Long-term complications of FGM include:
Problems with urination like painful urination and urinary tract infections;
Vaginal problems like vitiligo, itching, bacterial vaginosis and other infections;
Menstrual disorders like painful menstruations, difficulty in passing menstrual blood, etc;
Sexual problems include pain during intercourse, decreased satisfaction, etc ;
Increased risk of birth complications includes difficult delivery, heavy bleeding from caesarean section and neonatal death;
Psychological problems like depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, low self-esteem, etc.
TYPES OF FGM
There are four main types of female circumcision or female genital mutilation.
Type 1: Includes partial or complete removal of the clitoral glans (outer, visible part of the clitoris, sensitive part of the female genital organs) and/or clitoral hood (the fold of skin around the clitoral glans). Type I is most common in Egypt and southern Nigeria.
Type 1(a) involves removal of the clitoral hood only and is rarely performed alone.
A more common procedure is type 1(b), which involves partial or complete removal of the clitoris. The circumciser grabs or pulls the glans of the clitoris with the thumb and forefinger and cuts it off.
Type 2: Includes complete or partial removal of the labia minora with or without removal of the glans and labia majora.
Type 2 (a)- removal of the inner labia.
Type 2(b), removal of the clitoris and labia minora;
Type 2(c), removal of the clitoral glands, labia majora, and labia majora.
Type 3: This is also known as infibulation, this means 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 hood and glans. After the clitoris has been satisfactorily cut down, the circumciser can proceed with the total removal of the labia minora and the inner walls of the labia majora. The part which has been cut down or amputated might be placed in a pouch for a girl to wear. A single hole of around 2-3 mm is left for the passage of urine and menstrual flow. Type III is largely found in northeast Africa, particularly in Ethiopia, Somalia, and Sudan (although not in South Sudan). According to UNFPA( United Nations Fund for Population Activities) in 2010, 20 per cent of women with FGM have been infibulated.
Type 4: This consists of all other different dangerous processes to the girl's genitalia for non-clinical purposes. It includes pricking(it means making a small hole in the clitoris or on labia majora or labia minors), piercing(it means making a small hole in female genitalia to insert a ring, stud or other pieces of jewellery), incising(it means to mark or decorate female genitals with a cut or cuts) and cauterization(it means burning the female genitals using heat or a chemical). It also introduces substances into the vagina to tighten it. Labia stretching is also categorized as Type IV. Type 4 is common in southern and eastern Africa.
REASONS FOR PERFORMING FGM
The reason why FGM is carried out varies from one region to another and from time to time and includes a mixture of sociocultural factors in the family and community.
Where FGM is a social convention (social norm), social pressure to adjust to what is done and done by others, as well as the need to be accepted socially and fear of being rejected by the community, is a strong motivation to perpetuate the practice.
FGM is often considered an important part of raising a girl and a way to prepare her for adulthood and marriage.
FGM is often motivated by beliefs about what is considered acceptable sexual behaviour. It aims to ensure the virginity and loyalty of marriage.
Where it is believed that FGM increases marriage, it is more likely to be done.
FGM is associated with the ideals of the culture of femininity and simplicity, which includes the idea that girls are clean and beautiful after removing body parts that are considered unclean, and not important.
Some people believe that the practice has religious support, although there is no religious manuscript that prescribes the practice.
Religious leaders take different positions in connection with FGM: some promote it, some consider it irrelevant to religion, and others contribute to its abolition.
In most people, where FGM is practised, it is considered a cultural tradition.
FGM IS A VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
The statement between the United Nations Institution 2008 defines FGM/C as a violation of human rights, a form of gender-based discrimination, and a form of violence against girls. The practice violates some of the human rights described based on the universal declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of discrimination against women (CEDAW), and the Convention on Children's Rights. Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has the right to life, freedom, and security of people.FGM/C violates a series of established principles, norms, and human rights standards, including the principles of equality and non-discrimination based on gender, the right to life (when the procedure produces death), the right to freedom from torture and cruel, not humane, or demeaning treatment or punishment, and children's rights.FGM/C is also a violation of a person's rights to the highest health standards.UNICEF is currently implementing a program that contributes to the objectives of sustainable development 5, target 5.3, Elimination of Women's Genital Mutilation(FGM) in 2030, in 17 countries in Africa and the Middle East.
CONCLUSION
FGM/C is a manifestation of gender inequality, and women's empowerment is the most important for the elimination of the practice. Various programs, research, and documented policies - led by various non-national and international government organizations and UN agencies are being implemented to encourage the community, families, and individuals to leave FGM/C.
Overcoming FGM/C through education conveys human rights for girls and women and accelerates progress in the neglect of practices. Human rights-based programs that foster women's economic empowerment contribute to progress because they provide incentives to change traditional behaviour patterns that are bound by women and girls as dependent household members. Favourable jobs empower women in various fields of their lives and affect their sexual and reproductive health choices, education, and behaviours related to their health in general.
There is a positive relationship between empowerment, community intervention, and knowledge of the health consequences of FGM/c. The rights-based program must be led by the community and must be adjusted to consider the ideological structure and socioeconomic differences of each community. Responding to the needs and priorities of the community plays an integral role in gaining people's trust and making changes relevant.
REFERENCES
https://www.lawctopus.com/academike/ban-fgm-in-india/
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_genital_mutilation#:~:text=Common%20reasons%20for%20FGM%20cited,enhancement%20of%20male%20sexual%20pleasure.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/female-genital-mutilation
https://www.hhrjournal.org/2018/08/eradicating-female-genital-mutilation-cutting-human-rights-based-approaches-of-legislation-education-and-community-empowerment/
https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights#:~:text=Article%203,liberty%20and%20security%20of%20person.
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