Content: Lakshmi
Graphics: Ashwitha
“If gender equality were a reality, there would be no female genital mutilation ”
-Dr. Natalia Kanem
As a child, we used to run to our mothers even for a small bruise but imagine your own mother taking you to a room that'll make you cry harder? It's the female genital mutilation that's making many mothers and daughters helpless.
What is FGM:
WHO defines Female genital mutilation (FGM) as “all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.”
FGM is rooted in cultural, social, and religious beliefs, although it has no medical or scientific justification. FGM is typically performed on girls between infancy and adolescence. FGM is a violation of human rights of girls and women.
Why is it a concern:
These procedures, often carried out without proper medical supervision, cause irreversible damage and can have severe physical and psychological consequences.
Immediate complications include severe pain, bleeding, problems in urinating and infections. Long-term effects can include chronic pain, difficulties in childbirth, sexual dysfunction,increased risk of newborn deaths and psychological trauma.
FGM at global level:
More than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM). Although primarily concentrated in 30 countries in Africa and the Middle East, female genital mutilation is a universal problem.
In areas of middle East, the practice occurs in Iraq, Iran, Oman, Yemen, the united arab Emirates, in some asian countries like Indonesia with wide variations in prevelence. Female genital mutilation continues to persist amongst immigrant populations living in Western Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand.
Over the past 25 years, the prevalence of FGM has declined globally, but not all countries have made progress and the pace of decline has been uneven.
FGM in India:
Though no official data confirms the prevelence of FGM in India it's the voice of survivors that makes it a hard truth. Colloquially known as khatna or khafz, FGM has been a quiet practice within the Dawoodi Bohra community, a sect of Shia Muslims, for centuries. Studies have affirmed that over 80 per cent women in this community have undergone FGM.
The Bohra community in India, numbering approximately 2 million, is largely situated in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh.
Legal aspects of FGM:
Presently, there is no legislation that bans the practice in the country. In fact, the government’s denial to acknowledge its prevalence has stalled any such effort.
FGM cannot be supported in the name of religion since many Muslim majority countries have already outlawed the practice, which clearly shows that the practice of FGM is not an essential element of Islam.
Impact of FGM on girls:
It denies women and girls their right to bodily integrity and poses significant health risks throughout their lives. This can include controlling her sexuality to promote premarital virginity and marital fidelity. This is what makes FGM an imminent threat in lens of gender discrimination.
Global Efforts to Eradicate Female Genital Mutilation:
In 2012, the UN General Assembly designated February 6th as the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, with the aim to amplify and direct the efforts on the elimination of this practice.
Conclusion:
"FGM breaches all human rights and has no place in any 21st century society. "
By raising awareness, promoting education, supporting survivors, and engaging communities, we can strive towards its eradication. Together, we can create a world where all girls are free from the physical and emotional harm caused by FGM, allowing them to live lives of dignity, health, and empowerment.
Comentários