Flowering in the Drought

Flowering in the drought

By Andrés D. Pérez

IntroducctionFemale Mutilation Video

Female Genital Cutting - YouTube.flv

Defenition

What is Female Genital Mutilation?It’s a destructive operation in

which female genitals are partly or entirely removed or injured to eliminate a women's sexual feelings/pleasure.

It is also referred as FGM for short.

Where is FGM practiced? Female Genital Mutilation

happens primarily in Africa, in particular in North-Eastern, Eastern and Western Africa.

It also takes place in the Middle East, in South-East Asia – and also among immigrants in Europe. 

Its been discover is practice also in Paris.

StatisticsEstimates by the World Health

Organization indicate that 150 million women are affected by FGM.

In Europe the number of women who face FGM amounts to 500,000.

Prevalence of FCM in Africa

Types of FGM

The WHO differentiates between four different types of Female Genital Mutilation:

1. Sunna Circumcision = excision of the clitoris

2. Excision of inner lips or parts.3. Infibulations or Pharaonic Circumcision=

excision of part of or all of the external genitals. The remaining parts of the outer lips are sewn together leaving a small hole for urine and menstrual flow.

Type 1 and 2 are the most common types of FGM: 80% of the female poblation has gone through these procedures.

Who performs these mutilations?Women with high reputation in

their society.BarbersMidwivesHealers

What do you think?

CausesThe causes are a mix of cultural,

religious and social factors. Some of them are:

1. It is consider to be a way of raising a girl properly and preparing her for adulthood and marriage.

2. Others believe that it helps women to resist illicit sexual acts.

3. Some practitioners think it has religious support although there's no scrip declaring such thing.

Effects

Some of them are:1. It interferes with the women's

natural functions of their bodies.2. Immediate effects include severe

pain, shock, bleeding and many more.

3. Infertility4. Death

Consequences140 million girls are suffering and

living with the consequences of FGM. The women sector are suffering

psychological and physically.  The actual number of girls who die

as a result of FGM is not known. However, in areas in the Sudan where antibiotics are not available, it is estimated that one-third of the girls undergoing FGM die.

Possible Solutions Laws exist forbidding the

procedure and have been established in parts of Africa.

Education is definitely key to solving the problem, be it for professionals such as teachers or at a grass roots level.

Conclusion

Making a difference !Waris Dirie