In certain regions of Niger, little girls are still traumatized by certain harmful practices . Against their will, these girls continue to be subjected to these practices, shedding tears under the merciless gaze of women with sharp blades and knives, who carry out their excision in complete silence. Neither the tears, nor the moans, even less the flow of blood during the operation, can stop the women excisers in their work.
Under the banner of tradition and even religion, some claim, many Nigerian women and girls today are handicapped by this harmful practice, classified as female genital mutilation (FGM), which generally has health consequences.
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) refers to the mutilation of women. It is a traditional practice, which involves cutting off a woman’s external genitalia. It is practiced in many countries, even today. In Niger, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is practiced in most parts of the country, particularly in rural areas. FGM is practiced for cultural, religious and social reasons. They are often considered a rite of passage to adulthood, a condition of marriage or a means of protecting a girl’s virginity. They constitute a violation of children’s rights. They are forms of violence against women and girls that have a negative impact on women and their mental health.
FGM leads to serious complications such as infections, bleeding, chronic pain, urinary problems and difficult deliveries. It can also have psychological effects such as depression, anxiety and loss of self-confidence.
According to recent estimates by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, the World Bank and the United Nations Population Division, most countries with a high prevalence of FGM also have a high rate and number of maternal deaths. Among the four countries with the highest number of maternal deaths in the world, two have a high prevalence of FGM. Among all high-prevalence countries, five have a maternal mortality rate of 550 or more per 100,000 live births.
In addition, the term female genital mutilation is used in a number of United Nations documents and inter-agency declarations.
Important recent documents include the first United Nations General Assembly resolution ( http://www.unicef.org/bfa/french/resolution_ag_mgf.67-146.pdf ) Resolution (67/146) on the intensification of global action to eliminate female genital mutilation. Every year, the United Nations observes the International Day of Zero Tolerance of Female Genital Mutilation, which you can find on the following portal: http://www.un.org/fr/events/femalegenitalmutilationday/.
In all societies where it is practised, female genital mutilation reflects deep-rooted inequality between the sexes. Where it is widespread, the practice of FGM is encouraged by both men and women, generally without question, and any individual who does not conform to the norm runs the risk of being condemned, harassed and ostracized. For families, abandoning such a practice without the support of the community as a whole can be difficult. In fact, FGM often continues to be practised, even when its dangers to girls’ health are known, because the social benefits of the practice are deemed more important than its drawbacks.
The factors cited to explain the practice of FGM can generally be divided into five categories:
- Psychosexual factors: FGM is a means of controlling women’s sexuality, which is sometimes considered insatiable if certain parts of the genitalia – the clitoris in particular – are not removed. It is supposed to guarantee the wife’s virginity and fidelity before marriage, and to increase the man’s sexual pleasure.
- Sociological and cultural factors: FGM is seen as part of a girl’s initiation into adult womanhood, and as part of a community’s cultural heritage. Sometimes, myths about the female genitalia (e.g., the clitoris will eventually grow to the size of a penis if left uncut, FGM improves fertility or promotes child survival) help to perpetuate the practice.
- Aesthetic and hygiene-related factors: in some communities, a woman’s external genitalia are considered unclean and ugly. In such cases, their removal is justified on hygienic and aesthetic grounds.
- Religious factors: although neither Islam nor Christianity condones FGM, it is frequently justified by supposed religious doctrine.
- Socio-economic factors: in many communities, FGM is a prerequisite for marriage. When women are largely dependent on men, economic necessity can be a major factor in their acceptance of the practice. FGM is sometimes a prerequisite for the right to inherit. It can also represent an important source of income for those who perform the cutting.
FGM negatively affects the physical and mental health of women and girls. It can lead to serious complications such as infection, bleeding, chronic pain, urinary problems and difficulties in giving birth. It can also cause psychological effects such as depression, anxiety and loss of self-confidence.
According to a recent study, women who have undergone FGM are significantly more likely to require a caesarean section or episiotomy, spend longer in hospital and suffer postpartum haemorrhage than others. For women who have undergone infibulation, labor is prolonged and complicated, sometimes resulting in fetal death and obstetric fistula. The risk of death at birth is higher in newborns whose mothers have undergone the most severe forms of FGM.
FGM also has social and economic consequences. These can limit educational and employment opportunities for women and girls. It can also lead to problems within the family and the community.
To put an end to these practices, it is imperative to :
- Implement human rights-based programs and community dialogue
- Promoting girls’ education to combat FGM
- Raise awareness among FGM practitioners
- Raise awareness of harmful consequences
- Working with men and boys
- Helping girls escape FGM
