International Day of Zero Tolerance To Female Genital Mutilation

Say no to female genital mutilation.

What is female genital mutilation? This is a kind of circumcision done on a woman child's clitoris and there are several reasons given for this.

Read a post from the United Nations on the topic of discourse.

FEBRUARY 6 – International day of zero tolerance to FGM by THE UN

February 6th is recognised by the United Nations (UN) as an international awareness day – International day for zero tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation.

This brings one to the important question of what Female Genital Mutilation is and what the issue about it is that will make the UN set out an international day of awareness for the total eradication of such practice.

FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION (FGM)

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is the partial or total removal of the external female genital organs for non-medical reasons. FGM practice is a violation of the rights of the girl-child according to the UN. The elimination of the practice by 2030 is one the key target areas (under goal 5 of the Sustainable Development goals) of the UN.

Stat/Facts:

1. Over 150 million females alive have had FGM of some sort practised on them in over 40 countries worldwide; this cuts across Africa, Middle East, Asia, Eastern Europe, South America, etc. though it is primary concentrated in over 20 African countries.

2. The practice is done on females of age 0 – 15 years

3. It offers no health benefit to the female

4. It is a cultural practice as most religions do not promote this practice

5. It causes long term issues to the affected females; Urinary Tract Infection, reproductive tract infection, Vaginal infections, menstrual problems, ease of transmission of diseases such as HIV/AIDS due to crude and unsafe tools, miscarriages, death, etc.

Other names for the practice include cutting, female circumcision, initiation.

From the foregoing, FGM is nothing more than a negative archaic practice which is also prevalent in Nigeria.

The day of awareness which was first introduced in 2003 is set out to bring to the fore this burning issue of FGM and also give individuals the right education about its practice. However, it is noteworthy that in spite of the publicity made towards the eradication of the practice, many individuals are yet to have an idea of this ongoing negative practice, many also shy away from the topic, terming it ‘a women thing’

All hands have to be on deck to ensure that the practice of FGM is totally eradicated as its continuous existence spells a great danger to the females in the society.