Ending Female Genital Mutilation: A call to action.

The 6th of February every year marks the International Day for Zero tolerance for female genital mutilation (FGM).

Female genital mutilation is a very triggering topic for most people because of the cruel and gruesome nature of the practice.

Many of us do not know or understand the extent and consequences of FGM in society and perhaps why we do not talk about it as much we should.

Even worse than these is the total ignorance of the existence of FGM.

Some others are unable to bear the horrific stories of FGM, that they brush it off when it comes up.

But the reluctance to hear and the silence doesn’t take away the truth that FGM is still very much practiced in some parts of the world.

What is FGM?

Female genital mutilation is the total or partial removal of the external genitalia or other injury to the female genitalia organ for nonmedical reasons.

More than 200 million women and girls have undergone FGM worldwide with about 3million girls still at risk of undergoing the practice every year.

In 2021, there are about 4.16 million girls and women around the world who are at risk of undergoing FGM.

Around 1 in 4 girls and women (approximately 52 million) would experience FGM performed by health personnel. This shows an alarming trend in the medicalization of FGM.

According to a report on the prevalence of FGM by the world health organization, about 27% of girls and women between ages 15 and 49 have undergone FGM in Nigeria.

The practice is often rooted in cultural and societal sentiments and some of the reasons for the practice are centered around the need to curb the sexual urges of women and girls in those societies.

This reflects an extreme form of gender inequality between sexes as it is a power play to control the choices and sexual activities of girls and women.

It is also a gross violation of their rights as the act is usually carried out without their consent.

FGM has no health benefits and is done for nonmedical reasons. It rather leads to immediate health risks and long term conditions, some of which can be life threatening.

Some of these complications include:

• Severe bleeding
• Urinary problems
• Cysts
• Infections
• Shock
• Mental health complications
• Complications at child birth
• Increased risk of new born deaths
• Painful sexual intercourse

A call to action

The 2021 theme to mark the day of Zero tolerance for FGM, "No Time for Global Inaction, Unite, Fund, and Act to End Female Genital Mutilation" is a call to action for the global community to create a world that enables girls and women have a control over their lives.

We all part of the global community and must put hands together to fight for this cause of ending this barbaric practice.

FGM has caused a lot of harms and stolen the dreams and aspirations of girls and women worldwide.

Coordinated and systematic efforts are thus needed in ensuring the elimination of this practice.

These efforts must engage whole communities and be focused on human rights, gender equality, sexual education and attention to the needs of women and girls who suffer from its consequences.

More importantly, it is a violation of the fundamental rights of women and girls world wide.