Genital Mutilation

NAME: NEH AWUNDAGA

COURSE: BEHS (PROJECT ONE)

SEMESTER: FALL (2009)

FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION

Female genital mutilation’ (also called ‘female genital cutting’ and ‘female genital

mutilation/cutting’) refers to all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. Between 100 and 140 million girls and women in the world are estimated to have undergone such procedures, and 3 million girls are estimated to be at risk of undergoing the procedures every year. Female genital mutilation has been reported to occur in all parts of the world, but it is most prevalent in: the western, eastern, and north-eastern regions of Africa, some countries in Asia and the Middle East and among certain immigrant communities in North America and Europe.

Female genital mutilation has no known health benefits. On the contrary, it is known to be harmful to girls and women in many ways. First and foremost, it is painful and traumatic. The removal of or damage to healthy, normal genital tissue interferes with the natural functioning of the body and causes several immediate and long-term health consequences. For example, babies born to women who have undergone female genital mutilation suffer a higher rate of neonatal death compared with babies born to women who have not undergone the procedure. FGM also has a number of serious side effects including a risk of excessive bleeding, serious infection, exposure to disease (such as HIV), and even death. In the long term, some women experience chronic problems with urination, menstruation, sexual relations, infertility, pregnancy, and childbirth. Traumatism or depression can also result.

This raises interesting questions as to why there exist this form of brutalization and violence against women? Who are those imposing these kinds of inhumane acts and finally what is government doing about this?....