WUNRN
Female
genital mutilation comprises all procedures involving partial or total removal
of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs
whether for cultural or other non-therapeutic reasons.
Type I CLITORIDECTOMY: removal of part or all
of the clitoris
Type II EXCISION: removal of the clitoris with
partial or total removal of the small labium
Type III INFIBULATION: removal of part or all or the external genitalia, including the
clitoris
Type IV includes a variety of procedures:
pricking, piercing or incision of the clitoris and/ or labia; stretching of
the clitoris and/ or labia; cauterisation by burning the clitoris and
surrounding tissue, scraping of tissue surrounding the vaginal orifice or
cutting of the vagina; introduction of corrosive substances or herbs into the
vagina. |
Short
Term complications:
Traditional practitioners often perform the procedure in poor sanitary conditions using razor blades, knives or bits of glass to cut the delicate tissue. Lack of hygiene leads to severe infections and septicaemia and the pain and trauma can cause severe shock. Other immediate complications are tetanus or sepsis, urine retention, ulceration of the genital region and injury to adjacent tissues. Haemorrhage and severe bleeding can result in death.
Long
term complications:
In
the longer term many women experience obstetric, sexual and psychological
problems. A number of serious health outcomes have been identified in medical
reports: obstetric complications (antenatal, labour delivery, pregnancy
outcomes, maternal and neonatal mortality); gynecological problems;
psychosexual difficulties including infertility and also psychological
morbidity. If women and girls do not receive appropriate health, psychological
and emotional care these health impacts are further complicated. Many women
might not be aware that the health problems they experience later in life are
related to FGM and therefore they go unreported.
The
reasons for the continuation of FGM vary according to the socio-cultural
context where it exists.
The
major justifications are:
Useful information about FGM
Female
Genital Mutilation and Obstetric Outcome: WHO collaborative prospective
study in six African countries
The study is scientific evidence showing the negative effects of
FGM on child delivery.
June, 2006
http://www.who.int/reproductive-health/fgm/
RIGHTS-CAMEROON:
Finally, a Law Against Female Genital Mutilation?
Sylvestre Tetchiada
YAOUNDE, June 29 (IPS) - Recently,
June, 2006
http://ipsnews.net/africa/nota.asp?idnews=33811
Broken bodies broken dreams: violence against women exposed offers a powerful testimony of the different types of gender-based violence experienced by women and girls worldwide throughout their lives, through the use of photographs, individual case studies and illustrative text. The publication is part of OCHA/IRIN's ongoing campaign to highlight the issues of violence against women through film, text and photography.
This book serves to raise awareness and provoke action in addressing the
causes of gender-based violence, as well as assisting and defending the
millions of women targeted by violence. These are our sisters, our mothers, our
daughters.■ Jan Egeland, United
Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief
Coordinator.
November, 2005
http://www.irinnews.org/broken-bodies/default.asp
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