Ignatius Rebecca Ozioma

FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION Female genital mutilation, also known as female genital cutting or circumcision, is a harmful traditional practice that involves removing the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. It is practiced in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Despite widespread condemnation and condemnation of this practice, it continues to be carried out today in many parts of the world, often without the knowledge or consent of the woman involved. Female genital mutilation is like a virus that infects generations of women, passed down from mother to daughter with devastating effects. Despite international efforts to eradicate it, it continues to spread, unchecked and unspoken. Female genital mutilation (FGM) is firmly rooted in some African cultures, where it is seen as a rite of passage into womanhood, as well as an instrument to ensure a girl's purity before marriage. Infections, bleeding, difficulty urinating and menstruating, sexual dysfunction, and even death can result from this harmful and painful procedure. FGM not only causes physical suffering and potentially life-threatening complications, but it also robs girls of their right to make decisions about their bodies and puts them at risk of serious lifelong psychological and emotional harm. For instance, girls who have undergone FGM often experience anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other psychological consequences due to the trauma associated with the procedure. There have been efforts to eliminate FGM for decades, as it is considered a violation of human rights. It has become a criminal offense in many African countries to perform FGM. Furthermore, organizations like the United Nations are educating, advocating, and conducting awareness campaigns to end the practice. So far, eighteen countries in Africa have made it a criminal offense to perform FGM: Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, and Togo. In many African communities, FGM remains an issue despite progress made in reducing prevalence in some countries. FGM and the violations of girls' and women's rights can only be eradicated by addressing the root causes of the issue, such as gender inequality, poverty, and lack of education, for the well-being and rights of girls and women to be ensured. To achieve lasting positive change, it is essential to focus on the underlying and structural factors that perpetuate FGM, to eliminate the practice and protect the rights of girls and women around the world. Historically, female genital mutilation (FGM) has caused severe harm to women and is a grave violation of their human rights. Women who undergo FGM do not gain any medical benefits but rather suffer grave and often irreversible health consequences that take years to heal. In many African societies, FGM is deeply rooted in culture and performed on girls between eight and sixteen. The practice involves the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia. This can cause severe pain, infections, bleeding, and other health complications. As a result of FGM, there are also long-term psychological effects that can be experienced by the victim, such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). FGM is a form of gender-based violence that reflects and reinforces gender inequality and discrimination against women and girls. It is a clear violation of their right to physical and mental integrity, as well as their right to live free from violence and discrimination. The global community has made significant progress in addressing FGM, with many countries enacting laws criminalizing the practice and efforts to raise awareness about its harmful effects. However, despite these efforts, FGM remains prevalent in many African communities, and more needs to be done to address the root causes of the practice. Ending FGM requires the concerted effort of governments, civil society organizations, communities, and individuals to promote gender equality, education, and human rights. It is essential to empower women and girls, promote their access to education and healthcare, and encourage community-led initiatives to end the practice. Ultimately, ending FGM is essential to promoting the dignity, health, and human rights of women and girls everywhere. The practice of FGM continues to be a serious issue in many African countries, despite ongoing efforts to eliminate it. As of September 2021, FGM is a significant problem in many African countries. However, there have been some positive developments and progress made in recent years. Through community-based initiatives, awareness-raising campaigns, and legislation criminalizing the practice, FGM prevalence has declined significantly in countries like Burkina Faso, Egypt, and Kenya. These initiatives have helped to educate the public about the risks and harms associated with FGM and have provided access to services for survivors. Legislation has also helped to create a deterrent effect and has ensured that perpetrators are held accountable. A continent-wide campaign to eliminate FGM and child marriage was also launched by the African Union in 2020, called the "Saleema Initiative," which aims to mobilize governments, civil society organizations, and individuals to end these practices. "Saleema" is an Arabic word meaning "whole" or "intact," and is used to describe someone who has not been subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM). FGM remains prevalent in many African communities, and more needs to be done to address its root causes. In summary, FGM is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. It will take a combination of awareness-raising, empowering women, and promoting human rights to reduce its prevalence in African communities.