Female genital mutilation (FMG) comprises all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that have been subjected to this practice about 200 million among children, women and girls, from 30 different countries mostly concentrated in Africa, Middle East and Asia.
Among the victims of this violence, 44 million are girls and adolescents up to 14 years. The highest prevalence among this age group was found in Gambia, Mauritania and Indonesia, where around half of adolescents (aged up to 11 years) have undergone mutilation. Countries with the highest prevalence among girls and women aged 15 to 49 are Somalia 98 per cent, Guinea 97 per cent and Djibouti 93 per cent.
The vast majority, equivalent to 85% of genital mutilations performed in Africa consist from clitoridectomy and excision. The first is the partial or total removal of the clitoris and, in very rare cases, only in the removal of the clitoral prepuce (hood). Excision is a practice, which in addition to the removal of the clitoris also provides for the ablation of the labia minora.
The fiercest form of this violence against women is infibulation, also known as pharaonic circumcision, which consists in the removal of the clitoris, the labia minora and cauterization of part of the vaginal labia majora, followed by the stitching of the vulva, so as to restrict the ‘vaginal opening’.
Female circumcision is most common in Africa and is widespread in 28 of its countries, where has been statistically found that 15% of mutilation is infibulation, which also constitute the most damaging form of circumcision for the psychological and physical health of women, who are forced to endure.
FGM also involves acute and chronic complications. The first cause pain, bleeding, infections and sometimes death; while chronic complications occur when the wound heals, with serious consequences on maternal health.
Some examples are the fistula, infertility and inability to give birth naturally, which can cause obstetric complications and even infant death. Women who have undergone the ‘cut’ cannot have normal sexual relations and pain during sex is a common element.
The law prohibits virtually all over the world, including Africa, female genital mutilation, yet this practice so insulting and painful it is still part of the rites of passage from childhood to adulthood, especially in nomadic communities. In some regions, the mutilation identifies the time when a girl is ready for marriage and is so deeply rooted in the traditions, as to constitute an integral part of community identity.
On 20 December 2012, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a Resolution to Ban FGM worldwide. Over the years have made progress on these issue, and today, 24 of the 29 countries where FMG is most concentrated; have enacted legislation against this practice.
On 6 February last year, for UN International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation, AMREF Health Africa launched the campaign “Stop the Cut”.
During the initiative, the largest African NGO availed itself of a special testimonial: the twenty-five Nice Nailantei Leng’ete, a Maasai, became a prominent figure in the struggle for emancipation of African women.
Nice was born in Kenya, in Nomayianat, a rural village of semi-nomadic herders away from the city of Loitokitok, immersed in the savannah dominated by Kilimanjaro. After the death of both parents, in 1998, an aunt adopted her. When was nine years old, managed to escape infibulation running away from home.
Only one lone voice in a patriarchal tribe dominated by men, after a few years began to increase awareness the village elders and later the Moran, the young male warriors Maasai, about the dangerous effects of genital mutilation.
In 2008, village leaders picked her to become an educator of the community and the same chief Moran recognized her as an important agent for change by giving the esiere, black stick, symbolizing the male power among the Maasai.
To date, Nice has saved more than 10,500 girls from genital mutilation, involving them in training activities on the rights related to sexual and reproductive health, culminating in a celebration of tribal rites of passage that are not concerned with ancestral practices of circumcision.
Meanwhile, the young and determined Maasai graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Health Management and became assistant for AMREF projects in Kenya. His figure has gained international acclaim, leading her to talk about his mission to the Clinton Global Initiative in New York and to achieve the Mandela Washington Fellowship for young African leaders.
The next 26 January, Nice will be to Rome, where at 10.00 am at the Link Campus University will hold a Talk entitled “Education the weapon of change. AMREF’s commitment for African women”. Nice will tell about her inexhaustible effort to the defense of children and girls from early marriage and its tireless promotion of girls’ education, but above all of his courageous battle against female circumcision.
@afrofocus
Female genital mutilation (FMG) comprises all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that have been subjected to this practice about 200 million among children, women and girls, from 30 different countries mostly concentrated in Africa, Middle East and Asia.
