Female genital mutilation

Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) refers to the cutting and other procedures that injure the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. It may be called female circumcision in certain parts of the world.

Campaign road sign against female genital mutilation

No Health Benefits

The practice of FGM/C has no health benefits and can lead to a range of physical and mental health problems.

Effects

Immediate effects of FGM/C may include blood loss, severe pain, and sometimes death. Long-term health problems can include urinary infections, fistula, infertility, painful menstruation or sexual intercourse, and a potential increase in the risk of HIV/AIDS infection.

Complications

Women who have undergone FGM/C are significantly more likely to experience difficulties during childbirth, and their babies are more likely to die as a result of the practice. The practice often leaves girls and women feeling scared, psychologically scarred, embarrassed, and distressed.

Criminal Offense

In the United States, it is against U.S. law to perform FGM/C on a girl under the age of 18 or to send or attempt to send her outside the United States so FGM/C can be performed. Violation of the law is punishable by up to 5 years in prison, fines, or both. There is no exception for performing FGM/C because of tradition or culture. Cutting and other procedures that injure the female genital organs of a girl under 18 are prohibited under U.S. law.

Frequently asked questions

• How long do you go to jail for FGM in the United States?
• In the United States, a person can go up to 5 years to prison, fines, or both for female genital mutilation.
• Is maiming illegal? Yes, maiming, which refers to the act of intentionally causing severe injury to another person's body, is illegal in most countries, including the United States.
• What is a Khatna in female? Khatna, also known as "khafd" or "khitan," is a term used to describe female genital mutilation or cutting in some Muslim communities, particularly among the Dawoodi Bohra community in India and Pakistan.
• Is Female Genital Cutting legal in the US? No, Female Genital Cutting (FGM/C) is illegal in the United States. Performing FGM/C on a girl under the age of 18, or sending or attempting to send her outside the United States to undergo FGM/C, is against U.S. law and punishable by up to 5 years in prison, fines, or both.
• Is mutilation a crime? Yes, mutilation, which involves intentionally causing severe injury or disfigurement to another person's body, is a crime in most countries, including the United States.
• What is the purpose of Khatna? The purpose of Khatna, or female genital mutilation/cutting, varies across different cultures and communities. It is often performed as a cultural or religious practice, with beliefs that it promotes modesty, cleanliness, and maintains tradition. However, FGM/C has no health benefits and can lead to severe physical and psychological harm.
• What is corporal mutilation?
• Corporal mutilation refers to the intentional act of causing severe injury, disfigurement, or amputation to another person's body. This term can encompass a wide range of acts, including female genital mutilation/cutting and other forms of bodily harm.
• What is the prevalence of FGM/C worldwide? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone female genital mutilation/cutting in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The practice is most prevalent in countries such as Somalia, Guinea, and Djibouti.
• Are there different types of FGM/C? Yes, the World Health Organization (WHO) classifies female genital mutilation/cutting into four main types:

1. Type 1: Clitoridectomy - partial or total removal of the clitoris and/or the prepuce.
2. Type 2: Excision - partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majora.
3. Type 3: Infibulation - narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal, formed by cutting and repositioning the labia minora or labia majora.
4. Type 4: All other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, such as pricking, piercing, incising, scraping, and cauterization.

• Can FGM/C be reversed? Some types of FGM/C can be partially reversed through a medical procedure called "defibulation" or "deinfibulation," which involves reopening the sealed vaginal opening. This procedure can help alleviate some of the complications associated with FGM/C, such as painful intercourse, urinary problems, and difficulties during childbirth. However, it is important to note that full reversal of FGM/C is not possible, as the removed or damaged tissue cannot be restored.
• What efforts are being made to end FGM/C? Various international organizations, governments, and local communities are working together to end FGM/C. Efforts include raising awareness of the harmful effects of the practice, promoting education and alternative rites of passage, and implementing legal frameworks to criminalize FGM/C. The United Nations has set a goal to eliminate FGM/C by 2030 as part of its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Female genital mutilation Resources
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