FGM stands for Female Genital Mutilation, which 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. The practice is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women, and it reflects deep-rooted inequality between the sexes and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against girls and women. Here are some key facts about FGM:
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Types of FGM: There are four types of FGM, ranging from partial or total removal of the clitoris to narrowing the vaginal orifice and creating a covering seal.
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How it is practiced: FGM is usually performed by traditional practitioners using a sharp object such as a knife, a razor blade, or broken glass. There is also evidence of an increase in the performance of FGM by medical personnel, although medicalization of FGM is denounced by the World Health Organization.
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Consequences of FGM: Immediate consequences of FGM include severe pain and bleeding, shock, difficulty in passing urine, infections, injury to nearby genital tissue, and sometimes death. The procedure can also result in long-term physical, psychological, and sexual and reproductive health problems.
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Prevalence: According to available data from 30 countries where FGM is practiced in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, more than 200 million girls and women alive today have been subjected to the practice, with more than 3 million girls estimated to be at risk of FGM annually.
FGM is often considered a necessary part of raising a girl, and a way to prepare her for adulthood and marriage. It can include controlling her sexuality to promote premarital virginity and marital fidelity. Some people believe that the practice has religious support, although no religious scripts prescribe the practice. Religious leaders take varying positions. FGM is internationally recognized as a violation of human rights and a form of gender-based violence, and it is against the law in many countries, including the United States.
