According to United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF), globally, an estimated 140 million girls and women have undergone Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) and more than 3 million girls are at risk of the cut each year on the African continent alone.
FGM/C is generally performed on girls between ages of four and twelve, although it is practiced in some cultures as early as a few days after birth or as late as shortly before marriage.
Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) involves the cutting and/or removal of the clitoris and other vaginal tissue, often under unsanitary conditions, from the genitals of girls and women.
According to a 2006 World Health Organisation Study, FGM/C can be linked to increased complications in childbirth and even maternal deaths. Other side effects include severe pain, haemorrhage, tetanus infection, infertility, cysts and abscesses, urinary in-continuous, and psychological and sexual problems.
On 16 June 2006, in Addis Ababa, Africa Union (AU) urged its member states to put an end to the practice of FGM/C, saying the ritual traumatized millions of girls and women on the continent.
“We should take a moment to reflect on the traumatic experience of women and girls who have gone through this atrocity of the FGM,” said Alpha Oumar Konare, chairman of the AU commission, in a message on the ‘Day of the African Child’, which is observed on 16 June every year.
“We need to mobilise our communities, religious leaders, traditional leaders, women and men – through education and information – to change their mind set and involve them in combating FGM. The practice is a violation of the human rights and dignity of girls and women”, he pointed out.
Practically, there is the Type I (clitoridectomy), Type II (excision), Type III (infibulation). These are the most common forms of FGM/C practiced in Nigeria. Type IV is practiced to a much lesser extent. The form practiced cuts across religion including Christians, Muslims and Animists alike. According to the Senior Coordinator for International Women Issues, with over 250 ethnic groups and a ballpark figure of 160 million, a ballpark 25.1% of the women in Nigeria have undergone one of these procedures.
Type I is the excision (removal) of the clitoral hood with or without the removal of all or part of the clitoris.
Type II is the removal of the clitoris together with part or all of the labia minora (the inner vaginal lips).
Type III is the removal of part or all of the external genitalia (clitoris, labia minora and labia majora), and stitching or narrowing of the vaginal opening, leaving a very small opening, about the size of a match stick, to allow for the flow of urine and menstrual blood. The girl/woman’s legs are generally bound together from the hip to the ankle so she remains immobile for approximately 40 days to allow for the formation of scar tissue.
Type IV includes the introduction of corrosive substances into the vagina. This form is practiced to a much lesser extent than the other forms in Nigeria.
These procedures can take place anytime from a few days after birth to a few days after death.
In Edo State, the procedure is performed a few days after birth. In some very traditional communities, if a deceased woman is discovered to have never had the procedure; it may be performed on her before burial.
In others, it is performed on pregnant women during the birthing process, and accounts for much of the high morbidity and mortality rates, varying among ethnic groups. Highly respected women in the community including Traditional Birth Attendants (TBA), local barbers and Medical Doctors and Social Workers usually perform the procedure. Unless performed in medical facilities, it is generally performed without the use of anaesthesia.
Active campaigners against this practice are the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Nigerian Medical Women’s Association and Nigerian Medical Association. These three groups in particular are firmly against the legitimization of this practice as a medical necessity for females and are working to inform all Nigerian health practitioners about the harmful effects of the practice.
The results from fragmented data, according to Inter-African Committee/Nigeria shows the following prevalence and type in the following States in Nigeria:
Abia (no study); Adamawa (60-70%, type IV); Akwa Ibom (65-75%, type II); Anambra (40-60%, type II); Bauchi (50-60%, type IV); Bayelsa (no study); Benue (90-100%, type II); Borno (10-90%, types I,II,IV); Cross River (no study); Delta (80-90%, type II); Edo (30-40%, type II) Ebonyi (no study); Enugu (no study); Gombe (no study); Imo (40-50%, type II); Jigawa (60-70%, type IV); Kaduna (50-70%, type IV); Katsina (no study); Kano (no study); Kebbi (90-100%, type IV); Kogi (1%, type IV); Kwara (60-70%, types I, II); Lagos (20-30%, type I); Nasarawa (no study); Niger (no study); Ogun (35-45%, types I, II); Ondo (90-98%, type II); Osun (80-90%, type I); Oyo (60-70%, type I); Plateau (30-90%, types I,IV); Rivers (60-70%, types I, II); Sokoto (no study); Taraba (no study); Yobe (1%, type IV); Zamfara (no study); FCT Abuja (no study).
While all three forms occur throughout the country, type III, the most severe form has a higher incidence in the Northern States. Types I and II are more predominant in the South. Of the Six largest ethnic groups, i.e., Hausa, Ibo, Yoruba, Ijaw, Fulani and Kanuri, only the Fulani do not practice any form. The Yorubas practice mainly types I and II. The Hausas and Kanuris practice type III, while Ibos and Ijaws depending on the local community practice any one of the three forms.
Thus, some Nigerians continue this practice out of adherence to a cultural dictate that uncircumcised women are promiscuous, unclean, unmarriageable, physically undesirable and/or potential health risk to themselves and their children, especially during childbirth. One traditional belief is that if a male child’s head touches the clitoris during childbirth, the child will die.
There is no federal law banning FGM/C in Nigeria. Opponents of this practice rely on Section 34(1)a of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that states, “No person shall be subjected to torture or inhuman or degrading treatment”, as the basis for banning the practice nationwide. Edo, Cross River, Ogun, Osun, Rivers and Bayelsa States have banned the practice since 1999.
Moving forward, to effectively and roundly combat these practices, campaign against FGM/C has to be waged by carrying out programs so as to inform the public about this subject, with the aid of IEC materials including videos booklets, mass media, dramas, articles in newspapers etc. in both urban and rural communities throughout the country. Also it is pertinent that the Senate and House of Representative enact a law against Female Genital Mutilation in collaboration with the judicial system for easy and speedy interpretation and enforcement.
Contributed by: Anthony Ajegwu
Community Coordinator – PROFESSIONALS FOR HUMANITY
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