International: Global Consultation Report on FGM/cutting
Source:
UNFPA Recent studies indicate the profound effects of FGM/C on maternal morbidity and mortality and, possibly, on increased infant mortality.
UNFPA conceived the idea of bringing together experts
and practitioners to a global forum on female genital
mutilation/cutting, guided by its commitment to the
abandonment of FGM/C, which has created suffering
and pain among millions of women through generations.
Indeed, this practice causes significant and irreversible
damage to the physical, psychological and sexual health
of many women and girls and is one of the most devastating
human rights violations that are hidden from view.
FGM/C violates the human rights of infants, adolescent
girls and women who are incapable of giving informed
consent due to age or coercion.
Several declarations call for the abandonment of FGM/C,
including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms
of Discrimination against Women and the Maputo Protocol.
Indeed, the commitment to the protection of children
and women by the international community is critical. In
addition, achievement of the MDGs is a global commitment.
To achieve goals 4 and 5, aimed at decreasing child mortality and improving maternal health, FGM/C must be addressed and abandoned.
Increasingly, trained health providers—doctors, midwives, nurses and allied health personnel—are carrying out FGM/C. Hospital cleaners and veterinary doctors have also been reported to perform the practice in some communities. With the increasing awareness of negative health consequences of FGM/C, more families—especially the educated and urbanized—are taking their daughters to health facilities and/or to professionals to reduce immediate complications. Health providers often use hospital equipment and drugs (local anaesthesia, antibiotics, antitetanus and vitamin K) to reduce the immediate complications of the practice, including bleeding and pain. High prevalence is therefore maintained as mothers continue to deem the practice “safe” for their daughters. However, the medicalization of FGM/C does not make it right. Therefore, fighting this practice requires that UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO and their partners take a leading role in advocating for the prohibition of medicalization of this practice.
The argument in the last few years has been that so much money has been expended towards the abandonment of FGM/C, yet nothing much has changed over the decades. It is critical to remember that the practice has many tenacious dimensions. It is associated with tradition, spirituality, gender, myths and misconceptions. The money spent towards the abandonment of this practice has not been wasted. Indeed, changes are taking place globally in abandonment and in commitment for greater support.
In several countries, including Eritrea, Ethiopia and Kenya, where FGM/C abandonment programmes were sustained over many years, the trend in prevalence is downward. In Africa, 17 countries promulgated laws against FGM/C—Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Eritrea, Egypt (in 2008), Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Togo and the United Republic of Tanzania. In Nigeria, 12 states enacted laws against the practice. In Uganda, community bylaws against the practice are in place. Developed countries where FGM/C is being practised also enacted laws. In the United States, for example, the law requires that communities and medical professionals be educated about FGM/C.
To read the full report: http://www.unfpa.org/webdav/site/global/shared/documents/publications/2008/fgm_2008.pdf
