About 20 million women and girls in nigeria have undergone female genital mutilation, 10% of the global total, according to a comprehensive report released on. The history, the current prevalence and the approach to a patient jewel llamas april 2017 introduction female circumcision, also known as female genital mutilation fgm or female genital cutting fgc, is practiced in many countries spanning. Female genital mutilation fgm, also known as female genital cutting fgc in nigeria accounts for the most female genital cuttingmutilation fgmc cases worldwide. Nigeria and the challenge of ending female genital. Ashenafi moges through out history, culture tradition has been invoked to justify abhorrent and inhuman practices. The history of fgm is not well known but the practice dated back at least 2000 years. It has been documented in 28 african countries and in some countries in asia and the middle east, but due to increasing immigration from these countries to the western world, fgm has become a worldwide human rights and health issue. The shocking truth of child female circumcision in nigeria. Female genital mutilation fgm otherwise known as circumcision is an invasive and painful surgical procedure that is often performed without anesthesia on the girlchild before puberty. Adeokun 1, modupe oduwole 2, frank oronsaye 1, ao gbogboade 4, nurudeen aliyu 2, wumi adekunle 3. Female genital mutilation fgm includes procedures that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for nonmedical reasons.
Nigeria is currently ranked 118th out of 142 countries in the gender gap index 2014 of the world. The procedure has no health benefits for girls and women. Updated estimates of women and girls at risk, 2012 pdf, 466 kb dhs female genital mutilation or cutting fgmc outreach strategy, january 2017 pdf, 263 kb international organizations. The fgm national clinical group is a registered charity in. Female circumcision is a very important health problem affecting about 140 million people all around the world. Trends in female circumcision between 1933 and 2003 in. If you believe you are at risk of fgmc, know of someone at risk of fgmc, have questions about fgmc, or have undergone fgmc and need help or further information, please contact the number below.
This practice has received global attention and condemnation over the years because of its many serious physical, mental, social, economic, and political implications. Implication of female genital mutilation in nigeria as portal for infectious diseases. Female genital mutilation an overview sciencedirect topics. Circumcision is prevalent among 92% of men in north africa and around 62% in subsaharan africa. The term fgm is reserved to describe ritual istic practices where actual cutting and removal of sexual organs takes place toubia, 1995, p.
The health consequences of fgm include bacterial and viral infections, obstetrical complications, and psychological problems. Take action to eliminate female genital mutilation by 2030. The united states is committed to ending female genital mutilation or cutting fgmc. Sources report that nigeria has the largest number of instances of fgm also known as female circumcision or genital cutting in the world, due to its large population leadership 6 feb. Ekeocha disclosed that there are about six states in nigeria that still practice female genital mutilation, including imo state, stressing that unicef. One in four nigerian women between the ages of 15 and 49 years has experienced fgm, making the country number three in the world following egypt and ethiopia, the world health organization who estimates. Female genital mutilation violates the human rights of girls and women and it is a grave threat to their health. Female genital mutilation fgm and cutting is a subject of global interest, with many countries of the world still practicing it despite efforts by the who and other agencies to discourage the practice. Female genital mutilation a students manual an estimated 100140 million girls and women in the world today have undergone some form of female genital mutilation fgm, and 2 million girls are at risk from the practice each year. Female genital mutilationcutting fgmc is the partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for cultural or other nontherapeutic reasons. Female genital mutilation female circumcision is among traditional practices that are deeply entrenched in nigeria.
Female genital cutting fgc, also known as female circumcision or female genital mutilation, is an ancient practice that predates the abrahamic religions. Circumcision historically was not limited to only africa and the middle east. It details just one familys experience with the decadesold tradition of female genital mutilationcutting fgmc as practiced in southeastern nigeria. Feb 05, 2016 marking the uns international day of zero tolerance for female genital mutilation five nigerian girls who recently underwent fgm in cross river state talk about the horror of what happened to. Implication of female genital mutilation in nigeria as portal. Female circumcision, or female genital mutilation fgm, is defined by the world health organization as all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for nonmedical reasons.
The practice has no health benefits and can lead to a range of physical and mental health problems. Nigeria, due to its large population, has the highest absolute number of female genital mutilation fgm worldwide, accounting for about onequarter of the estimated 115 million circumcised women in the world. Trends in female circumcision between 1933 and 2003 in osun and ogun states, nigeria a cohort analysis lawrence a. It is typically done between infancy and the age of 15, but adult women may also undergo the. Government fact sheet on female genital mutilation or. Prevalence and factors associated with female genital. Female genital mutilation fgm is a procedure performed on women in developing countries and is underreported. Female genital cutting in southern urban and peria urban. World health organisation manual students a mutilation. Some 19 million women in nigeria have undergone fgm.
Nigerian man posts photos of female circumcision on. Traditional male circumcision in nigeria intactwiki. Ibi ugwu male circumcision is the removal of the foreskin covering the head of a penis. The history, the current prevalence and the approach to a patient april 2017 jewel llamas introduction female circumcision, also known as female genital mutilation fgm or female genital cutting fgc, is practiced in many countries spanning parts of africa, the middle east and southeast asia. Elimination of female genital circumcision in nigeria.
Demeo 1996 revisits his earlier work and discusses several theories regarding the origin of male and female. Jul 01, 2015 what it means to be female in nigeria. There has being a huge drive in many uk african communities in recent years, putting shame aside and telling their stories of the scars left on them by female genital mutilation fgm. Female genital mutilation or female circumcision is the collective name given to several different tradi tional practices that involve the cutting of female geni tals. Since fgm is almost always carried out on minors, it is also a violation of the rights of children. Although the origin is unclear, the history of the practice is reported to be dated back to over 2000 years. Female genital mutilation fgm comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for nonmedical reasons. Fraught with medical, legal, and bioethical debates, fgc is practiced in 28 african countries and some countries in asia.
Female genital mutilation fgm, also known as female genital cutting fgc, is practiced in 30 countries in western, eastern, and northeastern africa, in parts of the middle east and asia, and within some immigrant communities in europe, north america and australia. The scenario above, based on a true story, is from a stage play i attended in abuja organized by a. Sep 18, 2018 female genital mutilation fgm, also known as female circumcision or female genital cutting, is defined as the partial or total removal of external female genitalia and injury to the female organs for cultural or other nontherapeutic reason. Home education girls circumcision in nigeria who are the 10 25% girls circumcision in nigeria who are the 10 25%. Female genital mutilation fgm2 is the collective name given to several different traditional practices that involve the cutting of female genitals. Six states in nigeria that still practice female genital. Percentage of girls and women aged 15 to 49 years who have heard about fgmc and think the practice should continue, by household wealth quintile, education, ethnicity and age there is evidence of signi. Research directorate, immigration and refugee board of canada, ottawa. An overview of female genital mutilation in nigeria ncbi.
Some historians believe it originated in ancient egypt as evidenced by some egyprian mummies who were found to have undergone infibulalation. Female genital mutilation fgm, commonly known as female circumcision. Its global annual incidence is believed to be 3 in one million people. The highest prevalence is in south east and south west zones. The impact of the legal and political history of nigeria and the subsequent plural legal system on the reproductive health rights of women cannot be overemphasised. Trends in female circumcision between 1933 and 2003 in osun. The practice is found in africa, asia and the middle east, and within communities from countries in which fgm is common. Nigeria, senegal and sudanfound that women who had undergone fgmc were significantly more likely than others to. Female genital mutilation refers to the partial or complete removal of the external female genitalia. Female genital mutilationcutting in the united states. Female genital mutilation fgm, also known as female genital cutting fgc in nigeria. The contentious topic of female circumcision brings together medical science, womens health activism, media, and national and international policymaking in pursuit of the common goal of. Some sociocultural determinants have been identified as supporting this avoidable practice.
Elimination of female genital circumcision in nigeria the practice of fgm is widespread covering practically every state of the federation though in varying magnitude from infancy to adulthood. It may be called female circumcision in certain parts of the world. Tradition covers the most enduring enemies of a womans dignity and security and aims at preserving male dominance and female subjugation. Oct 11, 2016 about 20 million women and girls in nigeria have undergone female genital mutilation, 10% of the global total, according to a comprehensive report released on tuesday many nigerian girls are cut. These are the world health organizations key facts on female genital mutilation. Hitherto, these are parts of the reasons that makes fgm eradication difficult in nigeria, due to the uneven implementation of laws. It is a procedure that involves partial or completely removing the external females genitalia or other injury to the female. More than 200 million women have undergone female genital mutilation fgm with 3 million more at risk every single year. The political history of nigeria can be divided into three phases. In nigeria, the prevalence of fgm in women aged 1549 is 24. Fgm is performed in various forms in 28 african countries, and the social drivers behind the practice.
Nigeria, due to its large population, has the highest absolute number of female genital mutilation fgm worldwide, accounting for about onequarter of the estimated 115 million circumcised. Female genital mutilation in nigeria mostly practised in christian and traditional communities despite bans millions of girls and women are still subjected to genital mutilation. History of female circumcision in somalia desert flower. Circumcision among both males and females is an old practice referred to in pharaonic writings, but while male circumcision consists of cutting foreskin, even the mildest form of female genital cutting fgc includes removal of the prepuce, and many forms of fgc go further. Fgmc refers to cutting and other procedures that injure the female genital organs for nonmedical reasons. Female genital mutilation, also known as female genital cutting in nigeria accounts for the most female genital cuttingmutilation cases worldwide.
The us orificial surgery society for female circumcision operated until 1925, and clitoridectomies and infibulations would continue to be advocated by some through the 1930s. But one facebook user posted graphic pictures showing children being circumcised and asked parents to bring their children for the procedure at his home. Fgm is primarily practiced in many african nations. Nigeria s female genital mutilation ban is important precedent, say campaigners. Female genital mutilation fgm is the current terminology used by the world health organisation who and is familiar to most health care professionals. In 2003, the child acts rights was passed which makes the legal age of marriage 18. Understanding and addressing violence against women female genital mutilation female genital mutilation1 fgm is internationally recognized as a violation of the human rights of girls and women, reflecting deeprooted inequality between the sexes. The first mention of male and female circumcision appears in writings by a greek geographer who visited egypt around 25 b. Jul 19, 2018 circumcision historically was not limited to only africa and the middle east. It is an ancient igbo tradition and practice that has its origin in our traditional religious rites. Moreover, the historical origin of the practice asserts that it predates the advent of all.
The practice is considered harmful to girls and women and a violation of hu. Female circumcision in nigeria occurs mostly in infancy i. Fgm is a practice whose origin and signi cance is shrouded. In western and northern parts of africa it is mainly performed for religious reasons, whereas in southern parts of africa it rarely performed in neonates, instead being a rite of passage into manhood. On the average, the overall prevalence of female genital mutilation in nigeria settles at 50%.
The practices is customarily a family tradition that the young female of the age 015 would experience. Adeokun 1, modupe oduwole 2, frank oronsaye 1, ao gbogboade 4, nurudeen aliyu 2, wumi adekunle 3, grace sadiq1, ireti sutton1, and modupe taiwo3 abstract the international movement against female circumcision gained momentum in the past two decades. It is not known when or where the tradition of female genital mutilation originated from. One in four nigerian women between the ages of 15 and 49 years has experienced fgm, making the country number three in the world following egypt and ethiopia, the. The term female circumcision is inappropriate as it implies that the procedure is analogous to male circumcision when in fact a much more extensive amount of tissue is removed.
Circumcision in oceania and australia was a rite of passage into manhood as well as a. A form of circumcision was also practiced in oceania and aboriginal australia using sea shells as the cutting instrument. Nigeria is a federal republic composed of 36 states and the federal capital territory fct. Elimination of female genital circumcision in nigeria world health. It was believed that it was practised in ancient egypt as a sign of distinction amongst the aristocracy. Sep, 2016 research directorate, immigration and refugee board of canada, ottawa. Circumcision in oceania and australia was a rite of passage into manhood as well as a test of bravery. It is a procedure that involves partial or completely removing the external females genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs whenever for nonmedical reasons. In 2018, president goodluck jonathan signed a law banning fgm.
Female genital cutting is a form of discrimination against women based on. In 2015 citizens elected president muhammadu buhari of the all progressives congress party to a fouryear term in the first successful democratic transfer of power from a sitting president in the countrys history. The reasons given to justify fgm are numerous, they include. Review of the practice of female genital mutilation in nigeria. Female genital mutilation, a joint who unicef unfpa statement, 1997 female genital mutilationcutting fgmc is the partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for cultural or other nontherapeutic reasons. Fgm is also increasingly being done by male and female healthcare providers. The practice is mostly carried out by traditional circumcisers, who often play other central roles in communities, such as attending childbirths. Understanding and addressing violence against women. On a contrary, some states in nigeria did not adopt this act. The jewish and christian view on female genital mutilation. Sep 20, 2017 it details just one familys experience with the decadesold tradition of female genital mutilationcutting fgmc as practiced in southeastern nigeria. The history, the current prevalence and the approach to a patient jewel llamas april 2017 introduction female circumcision, also known as female genital mutilation fgm or female genital cutting fgc, is practiced in many countries spanning parts of africa, the middle east and southeast asia. Elimination of female genital mutilation female circumcision in nigeria female genital mutilation fgm, commonly known as female circumcision involves the cutting off of part or the whole of a girls clitoris and some other parts of her.
Its estimated up to 20 million women have undergone female genital mutilation in nigeria 10% of the worlds total. Female genital mutilation fgm is a practice involving the removal of all or parts of the female external genitalia. In times past, we circumcised both male and female children. Pdf an overview of female genital mutilation in nigeria. While the fgm prevalence in nigeria is by no means the highest in the region, at 24. Holt, an author of pediatric textbooks, advocated both circumcision and female genital mutilation as a treatment for masturbation.
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