Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Circumcision is a custom practised on boys as well as girls. While circumcision of boys occurs not only in developing countries, but also in Jewish, Muslim and Christian countries (USA being one of them), the circumcision on girls – also known as genital mutilation – is by now a highly controversial practice as it is associated with complications, infections, traumatization, suppression, and death.

Female genital mutilation occurs most often in Egypt, Ethiopia, Dschibuti, Eritrea, Guinea, Mali, Sierra Leone, Somalia and Sudan. In these countries, up to 80 to 98 percent of women are circumcised. Each day, around 6000 girls are being mutilated in the name of tradition. Of some 120 million women and girls having been circumcised, the majority are living in Africa. But the custom is also being practiced in some parts of Asia, especially Muslim countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia. Even in Europe many girls are being circumcised.

Unfortunately, many women do not recognize the correlation between female circumcision and its health and psychological hazards. Even if they do, most of them do not have the power or status to avoid the practice. FGM is most often associated with the rite of passage from girlhood to womanhood. Hence, without the rite, a woman cannot be married in many cultures. For that reason, many girls undergo the “cut” in order to be fully recognized as a woman. Uncircumcized girls are often considered unclean and unfit for marriage. In many cases, circumcision is to ensure virginity and faithfulness. Unfortunately, a great many girls who have been circumcised carry their psychological scars for the rest of their lives. Many suffer from post-traumatic psychological disorders which make it difficult for them to fully cope in life.

In order to change the horrible custom, people need to be informed about the health hazards and the psychological trauma it causes. But provision must also be made to ensure that girls undergo the rite of passage without the dangerous “cut” so that they can officially be recognized as grown-up women. Otherwise they may be doomed to stay unmarried and/or forced into prostitution. Changing customs in societies that venerate ancient traditions, values and mores requires convincing elders, parents, mothers and the women who perform the cut.

Below you'll find an impressive French video "Non à l'exision" (No to circumcision) promoting to stop the practice:

"Non à l'lexision" by Tiken Jah Fakoly