Breaking the Silence: Ending Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting

By Hamu Madzedze

Online Health and Gender Editor

The 20th anniversary of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and the upcoming 70th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) have brought attention to a grave human rights violation the Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C).

This heinous crime affects 230 million women and girls worldwide, with rates rising by 15% in the past eight years. Shobha Shukla, SHE & Rights Host and Coordinator, emphasized the significance of this moment, stating, that the SHE & Rights session marks the 20th anniversary of Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and the upcoming 70th Session of UN Commission on Status of Women (CSW70).

Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is also one of the indicators for UPR.

Speakers at the session emphasized that FGM/C is a form of gender-based violence, often performed on young girls and infants, and is a violation of human and child rights. Shobha Shukla highlighted the gravity of the issue.

"When we speak about violence and human rights violations, FGM/C is among the most heinous crimes" said Shukla.

Shukla emphasised the need to end such practices everywhere if the promises of gender equality and human rights are to be kept .

"Let us make accountability mechanisms like UPR more effective in ensuring gender equality and human right to health are protected and guaranteed to every person where no one is left behind".

Catherine Menganyi, a nurse,epidemiologist and FGM/C survivor, shared her personal experience, highlighting the pain and psychosocial trauma inflicted by the practice.

"My journey on ending FGM/C began when I knew where the shoe hurts most, I come from a community where FGM/C is practiced and it is so frustrating when I see girls running away from their homes because they are at risk of undergoing FGM/C.

Menganyi said communities should create a safe place where everybody is friendly, and the girl child feels safe .

Safiya Riyaz, Programme Officer at The Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW), noted that FGM/C is prevalent in 13 countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia, with Indonesia and Malaysia accounting for 77.5 million cases. She emphasized the importance of understanding the cultural and social context of FGM/C.

"We should understand it as a harmful practice and a form of gender-based violence that has become associated with the religion" pointed out Riyaz.

The session highlighted the importance of accountability mechanisms like UPR in ensuring gender equality and human rights. Divya Srinivasan, Global Lead, End Harmful Practices, Equality Now, said ending FGM/C is not charity, it is justice..

The speakers called for increased funding to accelerate work towards ending FGM/C, community-led solutions to address the root causes of FGM/C, strengthening laws and policies to protect girls and women, and addressing the medicalization of FGM/C.