What is Female Genital Mutilation? #
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures involving partial or total removal of the female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs, or any harmful procedure to the female genitalia, for non-medical reasons1. As stated in the Prohibition of FGM Act 2011, this includes:
- Clitoridectomy which is the partial or total removal of the clitoris or
the prepuce; - Excision which is the partial or total removal of the clitoris and the
Labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majora; - Infibulation which is the narrowing of the vaginal orifice with the
creation of a covering seal by cutting and appositioning the labia.
FGM is a reproductive health concern and a human rights violation that has devastating short and long-term impacts on the lives of women and girls. These effects include severe pain, shock, infections and complications during childbirth (affecting both the mother and the child), long-term gynecological problems (such as fistula), psychological effects, and death.
FGM occurs in a variety of cultural contexts, with significant differences in terms of the age at cutting, the extent of cutting, the setting in which the practice takes place and the rituals associated with it.
