Over the last two days, May 3-4, 2010, members of parliament (MPs) from across Africa met in Dakar 3-4 to discuss a continental ban on female genital mutilation (FGM). The African MPs are calling on the United Nations to pass a General Assembly resolution appealing for a global FGM ban, in accordance with the practices general human rights violation. The two days of meetings were used to for individual country’s to share lessons learned, as 17 individual countries have already banned the practice such as; Burkina Faso, Togo, Senegal and Uganda. The meeting then followed with a discussion and resolution of actions need ensure a full continental ban and resolution. “While national human rights laws, and regional treaties such as the 2003 Africa Union Maputo Declaration refer directly or indirectly to FGM/C, separate laws must be passed to address it head-on, said delegates.” (IRIN)
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) or Female Circumcision can be the partial or full removal of the external genitalia. FGM can often be fatal, especially when done in non-sanitary conditions, and, or by non-medically trained persons. The fatal results of FGM can often be caused by excessive bleeding, transmission of disease, or shock. The complications and the long-term effects of FGM can include; pain, infertility, difficulties in child birth, trouble with menstruation or urination, problems and extreme pain with intercourse, lack of sexual desire, no sexual stimulation, and mental illness.
While the ban is undoubtedly a historically positive step in the right direction to seeing an end to FGM across Africa and around the globe once and for all, the banning of the practice alone is not enough to ensure the practice is abolished.
However, no matter how strong national legislation is, if neighbouring countries do not also pass a ban, people will simply cross borders to undergo the procedure, Togo MP Christine Mensah Atoemne, told IRIN. “We have to develop cross-border strategies to eradicate the phenomenon,” she said, adding that FGM/C rates are 6 percent in central Togo and 15 percent in border areas.
Nonetheless increased programs to educate on the dangers of FGM, must be more widespread prior to its implementation. Governments and NGO’s must work together with community leaders, on all levels, to see that the entire community is adequately educated on the full facts of FGM, and the long term effects it has on a girls mental and physical health.
Please see my previous posts on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)/Female Circumcision for more information and background on the issue. Please also see the World Health Organization (WHO) FGM Fact Sheet and The Female Genital Mutilation Education and Networking Project for more news and information on the long term consequences of FGM.
