FGM

SAVE THE UNBORN AND THE GIRLS OF TODAY- END FGM.

By: Joyce Ohenewaa Kwapong

3rd May, 2016

Can you as an individual, imagine the pain of a blade cutting your fingers whilst trimming your nails? Or the pain of razor cuts? How about the cut of a knife on your finger?

Tell me a bit more about the prick of a needle on your finger tips.

I want to know much more about a cut on your toe after a stumble or fall?

These circumstances are not moments of joy but pain, I suppose.

So why then would a young girl be subjected to the use of a razor, go through a painful process whereby her labia minora or majora is cut off, a practice referred to as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)?

FGM is a painful process whereby the young girls female genitalia is cut off with a razor blade. In certain societies, this act is done using a rusty can lid, glass fragment, special knives, scissors or scalpels.

What moments of pain, where these young girls are made to lie helplessly to undergo such cruel act which has no medical basis.

Some societies may have several reasons why they practice FGM. Such reasons may include psychosexual reasons; where FGM is carried out as a way to control a woman's sexuality.

Other reasons could be cultural; where this practice is seen as a part of a girl's initiation into womanhood, thus deemed as part of a community's cultural heritage. Certain societies also base FGM practice on hygienic reasons where the female genitalia is considered dirty and ugly, hence the need to be removed to promote hygiene.

Whereas, other communities argue on religious basis by justifying the practice with religious doctrine. FGM practice in other societies, is a pre requisite for marriage.

However, the question is, are these justifications solid enough to outweigh the repercussions of this practice?

Permit me to outline a few negative implication of this practice which I believe will sensitize your emotions to say NO to FGM.

This article does not seek to only safeguard "at-risk" young girls of our current generation but to transcend to future generations of young girls and spare them the pain, ordeal and dangers of this practice.

The future of the upcoming generation lies in our hands and we must not fail them.

Together, let us arise and speak for their future.

Let us say NO to FGM.

Victims of FGM undergo immediate and subsequent complications which include infections, hemorrhage and physical trauma.

Subsequently, most of these young girls join their ancestors prematurely whilst the few others brave all odds to survive, going through psychological and emotional trauma such as depression, anxiety, shock, amongst others.

FGM is usually practiced on young girls who are not yet of age to stand their grounds and take personal decisions regarding issues of their sexual life.

Between the ages of infancy, and 15 years, as innocent, naïve and vulnerable as these girls are, they are manipulated and made to suffer in silence this barbaric act.

Every life is entitled to certain basic human rights.

Likewise, every child has the right to be protected from harm.

With the practice of FGM, can we then conclude, that society over the years, has failed to play it's role towards ensuring that our young girls are protected?

FGM is an abuse of the child's right  and should we watch unconcerned whilst the rights of our young girls being violated?

Would we turn a blind eye and deaf ears to the plight of these young girls, when they are entitled to freedom from violence and torture?

The practice of FGM is a threat to achieving the Millennium  Development Goals which includes reduction of child and maternal mortality, as well as the combat of HIV / AIDS, malaria and other diseases.

Statistics by international organizations such as WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank, to mention but few, have it that most countries where FGM is prevalent, have high records of maternal mortality.

Medical research also has it that, the practice of FGM increases the risks of HIV/ AIDS transmission to young girls and women.

Some societies argue that, FGM is a cultural heritage which they owe conformity to. For this reason, it becomes a herculean task to end this abuse.

Cultural heritage as they say? Culture I know is dynamic and subject to change.

When culture poses a hazard to humanity, it should be written off rather than used as a stepping stone in commiting violence and abuse.

A pertinent question concerning FGM as a cultural heritage is that, did man make culture, or culture made man?? If it's the former, then I stand to say that, culture that impacts negatively on human lives should be abolished.

As rightly said by Nimko Ali,

"Forget culture, forget community, and think about the child."

Other cultures argue FGM as a way of controlling a woman's sexuality.

For this reason, they cut the most sensitive part of a woman's genital organ.

If FGM practice, reduces a woman's urge for sexual pleasure, then how about the few who get sexually aroused by a mere touch or body contact with the opposite sex?

Is the female genital organ the only part of a woman that can feel pleasure?

Why not cut off the breasts, thighs and somewhat ridiculous, the ears of those who have such body parts as their most sensitive?

It is about time society gets rid of the outdated and pre colonial way of thinking and instead, strategize constructive measures for promoting chastity amongst young girls.

Society should consider mounting platforms that will educate young girls on the realities of their sexual lives and actions, abstinence, gender based violence and other sex educative and women empowerment programs.

More so, society must focus on the prevention of FGM and reduction of its practice to a zero- incidence rate rather than prosecution of culprits.

An anonymous quote reads,

"Behind every prosecution of an FGM perpetrator is a child that has been failed."

Using this platform, I say Congratulations! Kudos to all tribes, ethnic groups and countries that have outlawed this practice and abandoned it as inhumane.To the few that haven't and are still practicing FGM, I plead your indulgence to say NO to FGM.

The blood of innocent young girls are crying out loud for an end of FGM.

This should serve as a wake up call and challenge all tribes, ethnic groups and countries to mobilize forces and in one voice, Say NO to abuse, NO to harm of young females and NO to FGM..!

We must avail ourselves, beyond our individualistic concerns, championing the good course of improving lives in our societies, countries and Continent at large.

Horace Mann rightly said,

"Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity".

What are we doing for our young girls who are consistently being subjected to pains, harm, infections and in some cases, death? We must be the voice of these young ones, and stand united, call on our respective national leaders, if the need be, enact and enforce laws to abolish this barbaric acts in societies.

"The most persistent and consistent question is 'what are we doing for others?'"-Martin Luther King Jr.

We have a duty to these younger ones, and the unborn generations; responsibilities we should be honoured to perform. We are the progressive change we seek and we must lead the change.

"If not us, who? And If not now, when?"

Joyce Ohenewaa Kwapong

Tel: 0246234950

Email: joycekwapong@gmail.com

Activist, University of Ghana Accra City Campus.