Torture to Females - Heena Grover
Updated: Nov 23, 2021
*This content is written with no aim to offend anyone, but just to let people know what is happening in our society with girls and women, this is spreading from the past 5-7 years and need support from each of us. *
We have rarely heard of FMG, the international day of zero tolerance. This is what is happening out in almost 30 countries of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. But today in 2020 this has become a social issue to talk about, 4.1 million girls and women around the globe are facing this practice. This is not only a problem of that country but this issue is for girls and being a girl, I think we need to support them. We don’t only need to look for our country but all over the globe. In India, we are brought up with this education to help others. Even in India also we have few places where girls are abused, raped even by their own families only, few men’s today also think of women as their toy.
FMG (Female Genital Mutilation)
It is a process of partially or completely removing female genital organs and stitching the edges of vulva together for non-medical reasons and to avoid them from intercourse. At the age of 2-15 years, their legs are tied up with rope for being stitched and scrapping of vagina, and then this is continued for 40 days just to recover from the stitches and injury occurred while removal. Just imagine the pain and feeling she goes through while being tortured.
Traditionally it was performed by midwives but now in western medicine, it is performed by doctors and trained nurses. This process is mostly performed with broken glass, scissors, knives under unhealthy conditions, and without anaesthesia.
Effect of FGM
As per WHO, FGM has affected women as well as the economy. FGM not only impacts on the mental and psychological health of girls and women but also their chronic health. They have to face infections, heavy bleeding & complications during childbirth that can continue throughout their life. They experience a lot of pain during their menstrual cycle every month and even while having sexual intercourse. FGM can impact a lot to the economy as the treatment of all chronic problems, healthcare cost USD 1.4 billion per year globally.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO
Internationally this problem is recognized as a human rights violation as there is no medical benefit of it and it only causes harm. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), FMG is wiping out the economy as well as human costs and cause a tragic effect on physical and mental illness to millions of girls and women.
WHO is working with different countries to raise awareness about the impacts of FMG and taking steps in the prevention of FMG. Many countries and communities are supporting to prevent and end this harmful practice and promoting the rights and health well being of women and girls.
Ending Female Genital Mutilation by 2030
Coordinated and systematic efforts need to be made to engage communities and focus on human rights, gender equality, sexual education, and attention to the needs of women and girls who suffer from its consequences.
2020 Theme: Unleashing Youth Power
In UN General Assembly, 6th February 2012 is assigned as the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM, with the purpose to eliminate the ongoing practice. Ending FGM requires significant support by most of the population and youth that is why this international day focuses on youth to eliminate these practices under the theme: "Unleashing Youth Power: One decade of accelerating actions for zero female genital mutilation." Various activities and events are held to promote the campaign and spread awareness about the effects of FGM.
UN Action
The United Nations aims at removing this problem by 2030, with the spirit of Sustainable Development Goal.
Since 2008, UNFPA, jointly with UNICEF, leads the largest global program to end female genital mutilation. The program currently aims in 17 countries in Africa and the Middle East and also supports regional and global initiatives.
This is just to spread the awareness about FMG and the actions and support that we can do to eradicate this practice. As a child of mother earth, we need to take care of and support every place of it, not only the specific part in which we are living.