Female genital mutilation is a humane practice yet prevalent in 27 countries of Africa. It is also found in some parts of Asia and the Middle East. 200 million women living today have undergone the procedure and according to UNFPA, another 68 million young girls are at the risk of becoming a victim of it by 2030. The estimated number is feared to be increased as the global pandemic of Covid-19 has increased the gender-based violence against women which puts an additional 2 million girls in peril of FGM.
Although this practice is carried out to satisfy religious obligations, practically it is not confined to one religion, and females of both Muslim and Christian communities of Africa are made to go through it.
Tabitha, a 15 years old Kenyan girl from a devout Christian household, believes FGM is a totally non-religious and an extremely harmful act.
Cutting is not for the girl child and it is not in the bible.
Although at a pace slower than required, awareness against FGM is reaching other parts of Africa too.
Fatuma, is a Muslim teenager from Ethiopia whose community has finally started to stop FGM. According to Fatuma:
We are working day and night to stop female genital mutilation. Our mothers and grandmothers were facing its challenges for many decades and now we are free from it.
FGM is carried out for completely non-medical reasons and has no health benefits. Instead, it leads to long-term effects on the physical and psychological well-being of women. The health problems caused by FGM include severe pain, prolonged bleeding, infection, infertility, and even death. The victims of FGM are more vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases including HIV.
The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), World Health Organization, and other regional and local organizations are working to end FGM. UN hopes to eliminate Female Genital Mutilation and achieve gender equality by 2030 through adequate funding, active action, and a strong union of involved governments, international and national organizations, civil society, and communities.
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