Where is fgm practiced

Overview

Female genital mutilation (FGM) refers to all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. This harmful traditional practice has been documented for over 2,000 years, with origins tracing back to ancient Egypt and various cultural traditions across Africa and the Middle East. The World Health Organization classifies FGM as a violation of human rights, specifically the rights to health, security, and physical integrity.

FGM is deeply embedded in cultural, religious, and social traditions across practicing communities. It is often associated with ideas about purity, modesty, and femininity, with many communities believing it prepares girls for marriage and adulthood. Despite being practiced by various religious groups, no major religion mandates FGM, and religious leaders have increasingly spoken against it. The practice persists due to complex social dynamics including gender inequality, tradition, and community pressure.

How It Works

FGM procedures vary significantly by region, ethnicity, and community, but all involve harmful interventions on female genitalia.

• Geographic Distribution: FGM is concentrated in 30 countries across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, with particularly high prevalence in the Horn of Africa and West Africa. In Africa alone, 29 countries practice FGM, with Somalia having the highest rate at 99% of women aged 15-49 affected. Significant pockets also exist in Indonesia, Malaysia, and among diaspora communities worldwide.
• Age of Procedure: FGM is typically performed on girls between infancy and age 15, with most procedures occurring before age 5 in some countries and during adolescence in others. In Egypt, 77% of procedures occur between ages 5-14, while in Somalia, 63% occur before age 5. The timing often coincides with rites of passage or preparation for marriage.
• Practitioners and Settings: Traditional practitioners (often older women) perform approximately 80% of procedures, while health care providers perform about 20% in medicalized settings. Medicalization has increased in countries like Egypt, Guinea, and Sudan, where 38%, 15%, and 67% of procedures respectively are performed by health professionals. Most procedures occur in homes or community settings without anesthesia or sterile equipment.
• Types and Severity: WHO classifies FGM into four types: Type I (partial or total removal of clitoris), Type II (removal of clitoris and labia minora), Type III (narrowing vaginal opening by creating covering seal), and Type IV (all other harmful procedures). Type II is most common (about 80% of cases), while Type III (infibulation) affects about 10% of women who have undergone FGM, primarily in Somalia, Djibouti, and Sudan.

Key Comparisons

Why It Matters

• Health Consequences: FGM causes immediate complications including severe pain, bleeding (can lead to hemorrhagic shock), infections, and urinary problems in 100% of cases. Long-term effects include chronic pain, cysts, infertility, complications during childbirth (increased by 30% for Type III), and psychological trauma including PTSD in approximately 30% of survivors.
• Human Rights Violation: FGM violates multiple human rights including the right to health, security, physical integrity, freedom from torture, and the right to life when procedures result in death. The practice reflects and reinforces gender discrimination, with 200 million survivors representing one of the largest-scale human rights violations affecting women and girls globally.
• Economic and Social Impact: FGM contributes to gender inequality by limiting girls' education and economic opportunities, with affected girls having 20% lower school completion rates in some regions. The practice perpetuates cycles of poverty and limits women's participation in society, while medical costs for treating complications drain healthcare resources in affected countries.

Global efforts to eliminate FGM have intensified, with the UN targeting elimination by 2030 through Sustainable Development Goal 5.3. Progress has been made through legislation (40+ countries now ban FGM), community education, and alternative rites of passage programs. However, population growth in practicing regions means the absolute number of girls at risk may increase without accelerated intervention. The future of FGM elimination depends on sustained investment in community-led approaches, stronger enforcement of laws, and addressing root causes of gender inequality.