Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation
6 February 2023
According to the World Health Organization, female genital mutilation (FGM) refers to the partial or entire removal or injury of external female genital organs for non-medical reasons. Although the practice does not provide any health benefits for girls and women, it is still widely adopted. It is estimated that 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM, and 3 million girls are at risk of undergoing the procedure every year. Most girls are cut before the age of 15.
FGM has been reported in 30 countries worldwide. Child marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM) and obstetric fistula are issues still faced by women and girls in Malawi and Sierra Leone on a regular basis.
On the occasion of International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) this year, we spoke with an OBGYN and member of the WGH Malawi Chapter to hear more about her work.
Dr. Ennet Chipungu works on obstetric fistula repairs with the Freedom from Fistula Foundation in Malawi and has helped hundreds of women and girls since she began working in this field in 2013. She says that when she first began work in Sierra Leone, she encountered young girls, even pre-teens, who had undergone FGM, which motivated her to specialize in fistula repair.
It is estimated that 83% of women between the ages of 15 to 49 in Sierra Leone have been mutilated. It is still not against the law to perform FGM in Sierra Leone, but legally, it can only be performed on women over 18. Despite this, it remains culturally acceptable as a practice and parents continue to expose young girls to the procedure.
When asked about the cultural background of FGM, Dr. Chipungu stated that it is a practice shrouded in secrecy and one that has been transferred from one generation to the next. “The whole issue comes from this idea that as a woman, you need to be just submissive to your husband, then bear children, but not really enjoy the act of conceiving them,” Dr. Chipungu said.
As a human rights issue, raising awareness about the dangers and consequences of the practice is key to educating the community.
“The practice is indeed a women’s rights violation, especially when done to children. When this happens, girls cannot go to school, therefore they’re being left behind while boys keep moving forward,” says Dr. Chipungu.
Dr. Chipungu emphasizes that it has been a huge battle to fight FGM in Sierra Leone given the practice has been normalized in society. “Women need to get educated and understand that they don’t have to have it done. It is a harmful procedure with absolutely no benefits,” she says.
