Underlying Reasons for the Persistence of Female Genital Mutilation

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1. INTRODUCTION Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a term used to refer to any practice which includes the removal or alteration of the female genital or other injury to the female genital organs for nonmedical reason. 1 FGM is classified into four different categories where the different types of procedures can vary in different cultures. In medical and anthropological literature it is common to classify three different types of mutilation, depending on how the physical procedure comprises it is categorized; clitoridectomi, excision and infibulations 2 . The World Health Organization uses these categories, but has added a fourth type which is not classified as mutilation, and covers other types of damage done to the female genitalia 3 . Causes to these practices are cultural, traditional and social factors having different meanings within different communities and families. FGM is dangerous and highly painful causing unbearable pain and suffering, and in some cases life threatening. It is often performed in unhygienic conditions with razor blades, knifes or broken glass and the immediate or long-term physical and psychological consequences, are often grave. Direct complications often include severe pain, shock, severe bleeding, bacterial infection, urine retention, open sores in the genital region and injury to nearby genital tissues. Long –term consequences of FGM can result in recurrent bladder and urinary tract infections, cysts, infertility and an increased risk of child birth complications and new-born deaths 4 . These procedures are often performed on young girls, sometime between infancy to the age of 15, and occasionally on adult women. In Africa three million girls are at risk of FGM annually 5 . Therefore FGM is internationally recognized as a violation of the human rights of girls and women, and many organizations, locally and globally, are fighting against this practice. A vital aim is to strengthen the role of governments and relevant non-governmental organizations in the 1 WHO 2011, FGM fact sheet 2 Berggren, Franck, Kvinnlig Könsstympning, p.17 3 WHO 2011, FGM, Fact sheet 4 Ibid 5 Ibid 1
process of eliminating FGM. WHO also promotes positive changes in decision-makers attitudes, beliefs, behaviours and practices within families regarding FGM 6 . There are many on-going activities and projects against FGM. During recent decades increasing awareness of FGM has resulted in actions taken by local organizations and international conventions. Amongst them the United Nations Convention on The Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, where specific articles are directed against eliminating harmful customs or traditions to a child 7 . Decades of prevention work undertaken by local communities, governments, and national and international organizations have contributed to a reduction in the prevalence of FGM in some areas. Several governments have adopted laws against the practice. These laws have been complemented by culture- sensitive education and public awareness-raising activities, resulting in that the practice has declined 8 . One important measure taken to eliminate FGM is the regional plan of action against FGM implemented by the World Health Organization in Africa, including Tanzania. This regional plan of action has a long-term, medium-term and a short-term plan. The goal of the long-term plan is to improve health and more so the quality of life for women and girls. A vital part of this effort is to reduce the number of girls and women between 1-20 years of age who have been genitally mutilated. The medium-term plan sustains technical to implement social mobilization, support to formulate policy and legislation, training and research and program management to include national and community based activities. Finally the short-term plan is focused on strengthening the general objectives such as the advocacy and mobilization initiatives 9 . It is estimated that between 100 and 140 million girls and women lives with the consequences of FGM. The causes of this practice vary in different countries, within families and communities, by a mix of cultural, religious and social factors 10 . FGM and its variety of forms are practiced in Middle Eastern, Northern African and South of Saharan countries. Although FGM is mostly practiced in Islamic countries, it is important to state that FGM is not an Islamic practice. FGM 6 WHO 2011, FGM 7 CRC 2011, art. 24:3 8 WHO 2011, Eliminating Female genital mutilation, p. 4 9 Arvanitopoulou, Gia. 2010 Methods to Prevent Female Genital Mutilation.p 4-‐5 10 WHO 2011, FGM 2
Page 1 and 2: Exempel 11, sid 4-5 Underlying Reas
Page 3 and 4: ABBREVIATIONS FGM UNICEF WHO CE
Page 8 and 9: is in no way based on religious bel
Page 10 and 11: 1.4 Aims and objectives The purp
Page 12 and 13: 1.8 Disposition The study is divi
Page 14 and 15: 2.1 Qualitative case study rese
Page 16 and 17: young girl that herself had undergo
Page 18 and 19: 3. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK The pra
Page 20 and 21: organizations and intergovernmental
Page 22 and 23: obliged to form and adjust domestic
Page 24 and 25: human rights and therefore the disc
Page 26 and 27: as the custom has spread historical
Page 28 and 29: consequences of the urine and menst
Page 30 and 31: It is through this organization I h
Page 32 and 33: three or four years old when her gr
Page 34 and 35: many regions that practice/practice
Page 36 and 37: morals and fundamental rights, publ
Page 38 and 39: 5.2 Discussion FGM is internation
Page 40 and 41: likely to have the practice stop in
Page 42 and 43: 6. CONCLUSIONS Throughout this ess
Page 44: Reliabilitet Validitet 2011, retrie

Underlying Reasons for the Persistence of Female Genital Mutilation

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