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Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is defined by the World health Organisation as:
"all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for cultural or other non-therapeutic reason." (WHO 1995)

FGM occurs in 28+ countries in Africa, Indonesia, Yemen and UAE, among Bhora Indians on the Indian Sub-continent, in the Russian Spotsky religious sect and among Australian Aborigines. It exists where practising communities have emigrated e.g. UK, France, Australia, Canada and the USA.

There are four types (I - IV) and each type has potential immediate, short term and long term physical, emotional and psychological problems. For this reason position statements have been drawn up by major health organisations and professional bodies. Legislation against FGM exists in many countries, although it may be very difficult to enforce as the practices are largely carried out in secret, and are deeply entrenched in culture.

For information about stopping Female Genital Mutilation through the work of
FORWARD,

write to Forward
6th Floor, 50 Eastbourne Terrace, London, W2 6LX

or see links from the Agency for Culture and Change Management in Sheffield

EMail Forward
or telephone +44 (0)20 7725 2602
or fax +44 (020 7725 2796

Fact Pack
Click here for the World Health Organisation Fact Pack on Female Genital Mutilation

FGM is clearly in breach of the IPPF Charter on Sexual and Reproductive Rights
number 2, (The Right to Liberty and Security of the Person,
which recognises that no person should be subject to female genital mutilation, forced pregnancy, sterilisation or abortion),
number 5, (The Right to Freedom of Thought,which includes freedom from the restrictive interpretation of religious texts, beliefs, philosophies and customs as tools to curtail freedom of thought on sexual and reproductive health care and other issues)
number 9, (The Right to Health Care and Health Protection, which includes the right of health care clients to the highest possible quality of health care, and the right to be free from traditional practices which are harmful to health)
and number 12 12 (The Right to be Free from Torture and Ill-treatment, including the rights of all women, men and young people to protection from violence, sexual exploitation and abuse)

Certain beliefs underpin perpetuation of the practices - some groups believe the clitoris harms the man in intercourse (Mali), others that it harms the baby at the point of delivery (Atakumasa), some believe it causes infertility and others that the clitois is unhygenic. There are even folk tales (Northern Ghana) to suggest that if a woman´s genitals are not cut then plants and trees will die.

For others more radical FGM is used unequivocally as a means of preventing pre-marital vaginal intercourse or sexual infidelity.

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RESOURCES:Female Genital Mutilation