Forum: Commission on the Status of Women
Issue: The Question of the Practices of Female Genital Mutilation
Student officer: Elisabetta Gregorutti
Position: Co-Chair
INTRODUCTION
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) comprises 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.
These practices are rooted in gender inequality, attempt to control women’s sexuality and
ideas about purity, modesty and aesthetics. Some communities practice it as part of their
religion and there can be pressures to force girls have it done. However FGM is not
recommended by any religion or any religious texts.
Female Genital Mutilation has no health benefits, and it harms girls and women in many
ways. During the last decade many countries have decided to abolish these sort of
practices, recalling the fact that they may cause harm and different illnesses.
The aim of this report is to illustrate the consequences caused by FMG and spread
awareness about the risks and danger deriving from the procedures.
DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS
FMG Abbreviation of Female Genital Mutilation;
WHO (World Health Organisation) is a specialised agency of the United Nations that is
concerned with international public health. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Its
current priorities include communicable diseases, the migration of the effects of non
communicable diseases, sexual and reproductive health, nutrition, food security and
substance abuse;
UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) is a UN program headquartered in New York,
which provides developmental and humanitarian assistance to children and mothers;
Gender inequality refers to unequal treatment or perceptions of individuals based on their
gender. It arises from differences in socially constructed gender roles;
Mutilation the injure severely or disfigure, especially by cutting off tissue of body parts;
Circumciser this term refers to the person responsible for circumcision, the practice of
remove the prepuce of a male or clitoris, prepuce or labia of a female;
Clitoris small, sensitive and erectile part of female genitals;
Labia Minora the inner fold of the vulva - Labia Majora outer fold of skin of the vulva;
Clitoridectomy is the partial or total removal of the clitoris and, in very rare cases, only
the prepuce (the fold of skin surrounding the clitoris);
Excision is the partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, with or without
excision of the labia majora;
Infibulationis the narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal,
which is formed by cutting and repositioning the labia minora or majora through stitching,
with or without removal of the clitoris;
Cauterisation is the act of coagulating blood and destroying tissue with a hot iron or
caustic agent or by freezing.
BACKGROUND INFORMATIONS
History
The history of FGM is not well known but the practice dated back at least 2000 years. It
was believed that it was practiced in ancient Egypt as a sign of distinction among the
aristocracy. However, in the history, it was believed that FGM would ensure women’s
virginity and reduction in female desire.
Different types of FGM
The World Health Organisation (WHO) describes four types of FGM; the first and the
second one are the most common, but it must be kept in mind that all of the practices may
be very harmful.
The first type is called “clitoridectomy” and consists in the total or partial removal of the
clitoris; the second one is called “excision” and consists in the partial or total removal of
the clitoris and the labia; the third type is “infibulation”, the labia are sewed together to
make the vaginal opening smaller; the last type contains all other harm to the female
genitalia for non-medical purposes, including pricking, piercing, cutting, scraping and
cauterisation.
Basic Datas
According to the WHO, between 100 million and 140 million women and girls are thought
to be living with the consequences of female genital mutilation. This means that 3 million
girls and women may be at risk of FGM each year. Females living in countries where FGM
is practiced have the highest risk; in some countries only a small number of girls are cut, in
others nearly all girls are cut. The specific community or part of the country a girl lives in
can increase or decrease her risk of certain types of FGM. Also wealth and education both
of the parents and daughters receive may influence their choice to have a daughter cut.
Girls are most at risk between birth and 15 years: in about half of the countries in which
FGM is practiced, girls are cut before 5 years old; in other countries, most of them are cut
between 5 and 14. Sometimes, FGM is done to adult women just before marriage or they
should wait until the first pregnancy.
Why is FGM done
The reasons about practicing can vary according to the communities and cultures; they are
often complex and can change over time. In some countries, it is considered as a rite of
passage, which marks a girl’s transition to womanhood and her readiness to marry. It can
be also motivated by beliefs about sexual behaviour and virginity and chastity. According
to the WHO “when a vaginal opening is covered or narrowed, the fear of the pain of
opening it is expected to discourage ‘illicit’ sexual intercourse among women with this type
of FGM”.
The main reasons, we must keep in mind, may include:
• to help ensure a woman remains a virgin until marriage;
• hygiene (it is a real common belief that the external female genitals are unclean);
• rite of passage (in many cultures, FGM it is considered a rite of passage for a girl to
become woman);
• condition of marriage (a cut woman is considered ready to get married);
• belief that FGM increases sexual pleasure for men;
• religious duty.
FGM can cause health problems
These sort of practices have no health benefits, actually it interferes with the natural
functions of women’s body. FGM can cause immediate or long-term health problems,
depending on:
• how sterile the instruments and the place are (these practices in most countries are
illegal and must be done in secret);
• the experience of who performs FGM;
• the general health of the girl or woman involved.
Immediate complications can include:
• severe pain;
• excessive bleeding or haemorrhage;
• genital tissue swelling;
• infections, fever and, in particular cases, shocks;
• injury to surrounding genital tissue.
At the same time, long-term consequences may include:
• urinary problems, such as painful urination, urinary tract infections;
• vaginal, menstrual and sexual problems;
• increased risk of childbirth complications (haemorrhage, caesarean section etc..) and
newborn deaths;
• need for later surgeries (sometimes genital tissue is stitched again several times);
• psychological problems (depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, low selfesteem, etc..).
STATES INVOLVED
FGM is done mostly in parts of northern and central Africa, in the southern Sahara, and in
parts of the Middle East and Asia. Some immigrants still practice FGM or may send their
daughters back to their family homeland to do it; other immigrants stop practicing once
they reach a new country.
Somalia: according to WHO estimate, about 97.9% of Somalia’s women and girls
underwent FGM. In 2013, UNICEF in conjunction with the Somali authorities reported that
the FGM prevalence rate among 1 to 14 year-old girls, even though Article 15 of the
Federal Constitution adopted in August 2012 prohibits female circumcision;
Guinea has the second highest FGM prevalence rate worldwide: 96% of all Guinea women
aged between 15 and 49 have been cut. Here about 50% of the women believe that these
practices are a religious requirement. FGM is illegal in Guinea according Article 265 of the
Penal Code. The law sentences death to the perpetrator if the girl dies within 40 days after
being cut. Article 6 of the Guinean Constitution, that outlaws cruel treatment, could be
interpreted to include these practices, should a case be brought to the Supreme Court;
Djibouti: the prevalence rate of FGM range from 93 to 98%. Two thirds of the women
claimed tradition and religion as the primary motivation. According to Article 333 of
Djibouti’s Penal Code people found guilty of this practice will face a five-year prison term
and a fine of one million Djibouti francs;
Egypt: Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population has banned all forms of female genital
mutilation since 2007. This order declared it is prohibited for any doctors, nurses or any
other person to carry out any cut. However 91% of the country’s population still practice
FGM. During Egypt’s first trial for committing FGM in November 2014, the doctor was
ordered to pay the girl’s mother compensation and sentenced to more than 2 years in
prison.
Certain ethnic groups in Asian countries practice FGM, including communities in India,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
In the Middle East, the practice occurs in Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen, as
well as Iraq, the State of Palestine and Israel.
In South America, certain communities are known to practice FGM in Columbia, Ecuador
and Peru. And in many western countries, including Australia, Canada, Europe, the USA, it
is practiced among diaspora populations from states where it is practiced.
INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
In 1997, keeping in consideration the events correlated with FGM, the WHO issued a joint
statement against the practice of FGM together with the United Nations Children’s Fund
(UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Since 1997, great efforts have been made to counteract Female Genital Mutilation,
through researches, work within communities and changes in public policy. These
researches have shown that, if practicing communities themselves decide to abandon
FGM, the practice can be eliminated very rapidly.
According with this result, in 2007, UNFPA and UNICEF initiated the Joint Programme on
Female Genital Mutilation to accelerate the abandonment of the practice.
In 2008, WHO together with 9 other UN partners, issued a statement, called “Eliminating
FGM: an interagency statement”, on the elimination of these practices to support
increased advocacy for their abandonment.
Then in December 2012, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on intensifying
global efforts for the elimination of female genital mutilations. (A/RES/67/146)
WHO is now publishing “Guidelines on the Management of Health Complications from
FGM”, which aim to support health care professionals in their care to girls and woman,
who got through these practices.
It must be kept in mind that FGM is against the law in the United States and UK, which
together with many other countries, consider it a violation of women’s right and a form of
child abuse. Federal law considers a crime performing it on a girl younger than 18 or
taking or attempting to take a girl out of the country for FGM. Girls and women who have
experienced it are not considered guilty. A the same time in the UK many legislations, such
as the “Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation” and the “Prohibition of Female
Circumcision Act”, made it an offense to arrange these practices outside the country for
British citizens or permanent residents, whether or not it is lawful in the country to which
the girl is taken.
Maputo protocol (Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on
the Rights of Women in Africa)
This protocol, adopted by the “Assembly of the African Union” on July 11, 2003,
guarantees comprehensive rights to women including the right to take part in the political
process, social and political equality, autonomy in their reproductive health decision and an
end to FGM. Article 5 (Elimination of Harmful Practices) refers to FGM and other practices
that are harmful to women. This protocol must be remembered, because it is the main
important protocol about FGM adopted in a zone where FGM is more common than
elsewhere.
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
Firstly, it must to be kept in mind that the majority of the women, who have undergone
these practices, consider them a tradition that must be maintained. They undergo FGM
even thoughthey do not really know the consequences or the characteristics of these sort
of practices. For that reason, it is necessary to raise awareness and educate girls, as well
as parents, families and communities.
In many countries there are legislations and laws that should protect women from FGM,
but often they have been not even taken in consideration. For this reasons, it is important
to encourage all the Member States to enforce and enact legislations to prohibit female
genital mutilation, if not done yet, or to revise the already present ones.
Another really important point is psychological support and care, as well as health care: it
could be very useful to create centres for helping women, who underwent FGM, in order to
give them the right cure and help them to take measures to improve health (including
sexual and reproductive health). Give a support to these women, who have been badly
hurt - not only physically, but also psychologically- must be kept as one of the main points.
At the end of it all, I would like to remind the fact that finding possible effective solutions
does not exclude the respect for traditions and cultures.
USEFUL LINKS
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en/
http://www.unfpa.org/female-genital-mutilation
http://womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/female-genitalcutting.html
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/feb/06/what-is-female-genital-mutilation-wherehappen
http://www.fgmnationalgroup.org/historical_and_cultural.htm
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=43839#.WAefazJabVo