As millions of women and girls all over the world continue to become victims of genital mutilation, human rights groups are strongly pushing for the complete eradication of the harmful practice.
On Saturday, Feb. 6, the United Nations commemorated the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). With it, the call for a global ban echoed from different organizations.
Human Rights Violation
According to the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), at least 200 million women and girls across 30 countries have been subjected to FGM in the 21st century.
The earliest recorded excisions were performed in Egypt during 25 B.C. The practice still remains in the country even today.
Half of the worldwide FGM cases occur in three countries: Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia. It's also widely practiced in countries in the Middle East and Africa.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said FGM involves partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other forms of injury to the genital organs.
WHO spokesperson Tarek Jasarevic said there is no medical reason for the intervention on the matter.
"It is a violation of the human rights of girls and women and has no health benefits," said Jasarevic. "It harms girls and women in many ways."
FGM can cause problems in urinating, severe bleeding, infections, complications in childbirth, and an increased risk of newborn deaths among women.
Some of those subjected to the procedure do not survive and die, while those who get through the procedure suffer serious psychological consequences.
Subjected At Such A Young Age
Jasarevic said the excision is mostly carried out on young girls sometimes between infancy and the age of 15 years old.
A former excisionist in Cote D'Ivoire said they often begin at 3 months old.
"They are small and we do it," said Josephine Akissi Coulibaly. "Sometimes they're 18 years old. Sometimes they are mothers even. Often they bleed."
While FGM is illegal in many countries, some cultures consider it as part of their traditions, and so the practice is passed on.
"When you try to convince an excisionist, she won't listen because it's her livelihood. But we keep insisting and insisting," said OIS Afrique National Director Molao Bomisso. OIS Afrique is a UNICEF partner.
FGM is a procedure believed to be done to prepare girls for marriage or adulthood. It supposedly reduces a young girl's sexual desire and maintains her virginity and fidelity. However, there is no religious or scientific basis for the practice.
End The Violence Against Women
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on people everywhere to join the fight against FGM.
"I raise my voice and call on others to join me in empowering communities, which themselves are eager for change," Ban told The Guardian. "We can end FGM within a generation, bringing us closer to a world where the human rights of every woman, child and adolescent are fully respected, their health is protected and they can contribute more to our common future."
More girls and women worldwide will suffer from FGM every year by 2030 if current trends continue, the Secretary-General said.
UNICEF hopes that with the support of nations, communities and religious leaders, the harmful and violent practice will be abandoned in 15 years.
"Whatever the UN can do to help the campaign, we will spare no efforts," added Ban.
