Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
procedures, but in West Africa the procedure usually involves removal of the entire clitor-
is (called infibulation).
Although outsiders often believe that FGM is associated with Islam, it actually pre-
dates the religion (historical records of infibulation date back 6000 years) and has far
more to do with longstanding cultural traditions than religious doctrine; in predominantly
Muslim northern Mali, FGM prevalence rates are less than 10%. The procedure is usually
performed by midwives on girls and young women. They sometimes use modern surgical
instruments, but more often it's done with a razor blade or even a piece of glass. If the
procedure is done in a traditional setting the girl will not be anaesthetised, although
nowadays many families take their daughters to clinics to have the procedure performed
by a trained doctor. Complications, especially in the traditional setting, include infection
of the wound, leading to death, or scarring, which makes childbirth and urination difficult.
In West Africa, FGM is seen among traditionalists as important for maintaining tradi-
tional society. An unaltered woman would dishonour her family and lower its position in
society, as well as ruining her own chances for marriage - a circumcised woman is
thought to be a moral woman, and more likely a virgin. Many believe that if left, the clit-
oris can make a woman infertile, or damage and even kill her unborn children.
Some West African countries have enacted laws outlawing FGM, but poor enforcement
means that, even where FGM is illegal, the practice continues as before. FGM is illegal in
Guinea, for example, and punishable in some cases by life imprisonment with hard labour,
yet an estimated 98.6% of women still undergo the procedure. Laws against FGM are also
on the topics in Burkina Faso, which nonetheless has a 76.6% prevalence rate, and in Côte
d'Ivoire (44.5%). The practice is also extremely common in Mali (91.6%), Sierra Leone
(80% to 90%), The Gambia (60% to 90%) and Nigeria (19%), none of which have laws
outlawing FGM. FGM is a particularly common practice among the Fulani.
The Female Genital Cutting Education and Networking Project (
www.fgmnetwork.org/index.php
)
is an
excellent resource on female genital mutilation (FMG), including statistics for many West African coun-
tries.
