International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation 2024

"Let us join her, hand in hand,

To end FGM across the land.

For in her triumph, our hope is found,

As her voice echoes, the world around."

On February 6th each year, the world comes together to observe the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), shining a spotlight on a crucial issue.

Female genital mutilation, a deeply concerning practice, involves altering or harming the female genitalia for non-medical reasons. It is recognized universally as a violation of human rights. Sadly, an alarming 200 million girls and women worldwide have undergone this procedure.

While there is progress in reducing this practice in many countries, the challenge persists. Compounded by high population growth rates in many regions, there is a pressing need to accelerate efforts to end FGM. Every year, this day serves as a reminder of our collective responsibility to protect the rights and dignity of girls and women everywhere, ensuring they live free from harm and discrimination.

FGM Day Theme 2024

UNFPA and UNICEF are working together to stop Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). They lead a big global plan focusing on 17 countries. This plan helps regional and worldwide efforts, too.

In 2012, the UN General Assembly made February 6th an International day of zero tolerance for female genital mutilation, saying "No" to FGM. They wanted to make everyone focus on stopping this bad practice.

This year, the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation has a special theme: "Her Voice. Her Future". It Is about supporting groups led by survivors to stop FGM.

What is FGM?

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is when someone hurts or changes a girl's private parts on purpose for reasons that aren't medical. They might use a sharp tool, like a knife, and it Is usually done in unsafe conditions. This practice primarily targets girls from infancy to around the age of 15. It is also called female circumcision or cutting.

Some people might think doing this with medical help makes it safer, but that's not accepted because it is against the rights of girls and women worldwide. Every year, over 3 million girls are at risk, and around 200 million women have already been through it. 

This happens a lot in parts of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, as well as among people who move from these places. There are rules against it in many countries now, and people are trying to convince those who do it to stop.

Why is Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Practiced?

People usually do FGM on girls when they are young, sometimes even when they are babies or when they are teenagers. Sometimes, it's done to adult women too. The reasons why they do it can be different depending on where you are. Some communities believe a girl must go through this to become an adult and get married.

In many places, FGM is seen as something everyone must do because it is what society expects. People feel pressured to follow these expectations or worry about being rejected if they don't. Some do it because they think it is the right way to behave sexually.

Even in countries where FGM is not common, like in parts of Europe, it is still a problem. Each year, many girls and women are at risk of going through it because of globalization and immigration.

WHO classification of FGM

The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies this procedure into four types.

Type I (clitoridectomy): This involves either partially or completely removing the clitoris, which is a small, sensitive, and erectile region of the female genitals. In some rare cases, only the prepuce, which is the fold of skin around the clitoris, may be removed.

Type II (excision): This procedure involves partially or completely removing both the clitoris and the labia minora, which are the inner folds of the vulva. It may also involve the removal of the labia majora, the outer folds, with or without excising the labia minora.

Type III (infibulation): This is the most severe form, where the vaginal entrance is narrowed by forming a covering seal. This seal is created by cutting and repositioning the labia minora or majora, sometimes with stitching. In some cases, the clitoris may also be removed.

Type IV: This category includes any additional harmful non-medical treatments, such as piercing, incising, or pricking of the female genitalia, that are not categorized under Types I, II, or III.

Consequences of FGM

I. Short-Term Consequences:

FGM in the short term may lead to severe complications such as:

• Experience immediate pain, excessive bleeding, and swelling.
• Face risks of infection, urinary and vaginal issues, and menstrual complications.
• Encounter sexual and psychological challenges.
• Struggle with pregnancy and childbirth difficulties.

II. Long-Term Consequences:

Long-term consequences include: 

• Urinary problems (painful urination, urinary tract infections),
• Vaginal problems (discharge, itching, bacterial vaginosis, and other infections),
• Menstrual problems (e.g., painful menstruations, difficulty in passing menstrual blood),
• Keloid formation on the scar tissue,
• Sexual problems (e.g., pain during intercourse, decreased satisfaction),
• Increased risk of childbirth complications (e.g., perineal tear, difficult or prolonged labor, Increased rate of cesarean section and postpartum hemorrhage, increased need for newborn resuscitation),
• Rarely newborn deaths.

Harsh Reality of FGM: The Statistics

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) remains a grave violation of human rights across the globe, with societies practicing it through the ages.

• In 2024, the world faces a staggering reality: over 4.4 million girls are at risk of FGM. This number climbs by over 12,000 every single day.
• Without intensified efforts to halt this practice, projections suggest the number of at-risk girls will reach 4.6 million by 2030.
• According to UNFPA, between 2015 and 2030, a shocking 68 million girls are at risk of mutilation.
• In Europe alone, the European Institute of Gender Equality estimates that 180,000 women and girls face this risk each year.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated this situation, putting an additional two million girls at risk of falling victim to this harmful tradition.

Protecting these vulnerable girls demands an urgent and concerted effort to accelerate the elimination of this harmful and often deadly practice.

FAQS

1Q. Is there a link between female genital mutilation and the risk of HIV infection?

There isn't a clear, direct association between FGM and HIV. However, sharing instruments during the procedure or experiencing laceration of scar tissue during intercourse may increase HIV risk.

2Q. What are the psychological effects of female genital mutilation?

FGM can lead to psychological issues like post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and physical complaints without organic cause.

3Q. Which types of FGM are most common?

Types I and II are globally the most common, with Type III (infibulation) being practiced by about 10% of affected women, primarily in Somalia, Sudan, and Djibouti.

4Q. Where does the practice of FGM come from?

The origins are unclear, but it has been practiced across ages and continents. Historically, various cultures, including early Romans, Arabs, and African tribes, practiced forms of female circumcision.

5Q. Where is FGM practiced?

FGM is documented in 92 countries worldwide. It's prevalent in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and even in countries like Australia, the United States, and parts of Europe. Shockingly in India, FGM is practiced among the Bohra community in Mumbai.

6Q. Who performs FGM?

Typically, elderly community members, often women, or traditional birth attendants, carry out FGM. In some cases, health workers also perform it, leading to what's known as the "medicalization" of FGM. According to UNFPA, Over 20 million girls and women have undergone FGM at the hands of healthcare providers (medicalization of FGM)  with Egypt and Sundan accounting for 78% and 77% respectively.

7Q. What instruments are used for FGM?

Special knives, scissors, scalpels, pieces of glass, or razor blades are commonly used. Anesthetics and antiseptics are generally not used except in medical settings. In communities practicing infibulation, girls' legs may be bound together to immobilize them during healing.

The Bottom line

As mentioned above, different regions have their reasons for practicing FGM, like religion, fear of being excluded or wanting to protect virginity before marriage.

International efforts have tried to stop FGM for many years. While some progress has been made, many countries still don't fully follow the laws against it.

On this International day of zero tolerance for female genital mutilation 2024, we need everyone in the community to work together to end FGM. It is important to focus on human rights and ensure everyone, regardless of gender, is treated fairly. We also need to help women and girls who have been through FGM with their health needs.

Women and girls play a big role in making progress against FGM. When they lead, it helps make society more equal and fairer for everyone. We must work together to create FGM awareness and prevention to ensure no girl or woman is left behind.

"#Her voice matters! #End FGM!"