FGM was once considered a taboo; a cultural practice that was swept under the carpet in attempt to adhere to cultural practices without drawing too much attention.
But women fought back.
Girls stood up for their rights.
The world finally speaks up for those who were being silenced. Are our efforts enough?
What is FGM?
FGM is the abbrievated term for female genitial mutilation. The National Health Service (NHS) describe FGM as “Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a procedure where the female genitals are deliberately cut, injured or changed, but there’s no medical reason for this to be done” . The procedure is carried out on young girls between infancy and their early teens until the age of 15, most commonly conducted before puberty starts.
In the UK, FGM is deemed as child abuse and is illegal. It constitutes as a severe breach of a woman’s fundamental human rights and reproductive rights. The practice is classed internationally as a violation of human rights.
It has been reported that more than 200 millions girls and women alive today have been cut in 30 countries across Africa, the Middle East and Asia where FGM is concentrated. The World Health Organisation (WHO) also report that more than 3 million girls are estimated to be at risk of having FGM performed on them. This is most likely, without the girls’ consent.
Social and cultural “norms”
Though different regions of the globe have varied reasons as to the thought process behind the procedure, the common consensus is that it is a cultural tradition and norm that has been performed for decades and therefore families fall into the need to adhere and uphold the tradition. WHO report that FGM is almost “universally performed and unquestioned” (ibid). It is considered a way of life.
The purpose of the procedure is often considered as a standardised and necessary part of raising a girl; preparing her for adulthood and marriage. Some cultures perform the procedure to ensure premarital virginity and marital fidelity. This may lend itself to the consensus and ongoing debate that women are still considered as second class citizens in relation to their counterparts, i.e. males/ husbands. It also beckons the question as to why women need such stringent and harmful practises, which may even lead to excessive bleeding and death; and for what purpose.
Women are still, sadly, seen as items to be “sold” or married off; and FGM/ being cut in some cultures, is considered to make a woman more attractive for marriage. WHO also state that “FGM is associated with cultural ideals of femininity and modesty, which include the notion that girls are clean and beautiful after removal of body parts that are considered unclean, unfeminine or male” (ibid).
The knock on effect the procedure has is twofold: not only does it put women at major health risk factors, it increases the economic costs in treating health complications derived as a direct result of FGM. WHO state that current costs for 27 countries where data were available totalled 1.4 billion USD in 2019. In 30 years time, i.e. 2047, this amount is expected to rise to 2.3 billion if FGM prevalence remains the same. If countries however abandon FGM, these costs would decrease by 60% over the next 30 years (ibid).
Coronavirus meets FGM
The Guardian reports that due to country lockdowns, young girls are more at risk of being subjected to FGM. They reported on 18th May 2020, a huge influx in FGM cases were recorded in Somalia, where more than 98% of the female population are cut.
In the UK the practice is illegal. How sure can we be that it isn’t being carried out behind doors and girls are being silenced?
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has warned that the FGM pandemic could result in a further 2 million girls worldwide being cut in the next decade, as the current crisis is on the rise and defeating the global efforts to end the practice.
The law in the UK
In the UK, FGM is illegal and anyone who performs FGM can face imprisonment of up to 14 years. Anyone who is found guilty of failing to protect a girl from enduring FGM can face imprisonment of up to 7 years (Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 (“the 2003 Act”), as amended by the Serious Crime Act 2015).
The NHS alongside charities and support groups are working hard within communities of the UK to ensure girls are not underhandedly subjected to FGM. The school summer holidays are often suggested as an “FGM Passport” whereby girls are placed at the highest risk of being subjected to the procedure, as they can travel to their motherlands to have the procedure performed.
Amnesty International have a “My Body, My Rights” campaign, which encourages women to know and speak out about their rights to their bodies. It is a global campaign to stop the control over women’s bodies, rights and reproduction. Amnesty state that: “Being able to make our own decisions about our health, body and sexual life is a basic human right”.
My two cents
FGM is a global pandemic that we should all be fully educated about and restrict at all costs. Young girls, the most susceptible, are tomorrow’s future of our world and we should encourage them to be free about their rights to their bodies. There are no benefits in performing the harrowing procedure and therefore we should ensure that the efforts charities, health providers and movements are not in vain.
I stand in the fight to #EndTheCut – do you?
This article is written with information correct as at 29th May 2020
Niresha negotiates 
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