The Female Genital Cut and Its Many Faces

There are a number of types of FGM 'surgical operations' practiced in Sub-Saharan Africa in countries that include Egypt, Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Chad. Degrees of mutilation range from excision of the hood of the clitoris or clitoris itself to complete infibulation. Infibulation involves removal of the clitoris, labia minora and labia majora, leaving a small opening for the passage of urine and menstrual blood.

These Mutilating, Surgical Types Include:

Type I - (Sunna Circumcision) - excision of the prepuce, with or without excision of part or the entire clitoris.

Type II- (Clitoridectomy) - excision of the clitoris with partial or total excision of the labia minora;

Type III - (Infibulation a.k.a. Pharaonic Circumcision) -excision of part or all of the external genitalia and stitching or narrowing of the vaginal opening. This is the most severe and it involves the removal of all or part of the external genitalia, leaving only a small opening for urine and menstruation. The cutting usually takes place between the ages of 4 and 12. A second operation is done later in life to reverse some of the damage. In some cultures, the woman is cut open by her husband on their wedding night with a double edged dagger (just imagine the gory details!!). She may be sewn up again if her husband leaves on a long trip.

Type IV –
• pricking, piercing or incising of the clitoris and/or labia;
• stretching of the clitoris and/or labia;
• cauterization by burning of the clitoris and surrounding tissue;
• scraping of tissue surrounding the vaginal orifice (angurya cuts) or cutting of the vagina (gishiri cuts);
• introduction of corrosive substances or herbs into the vagina to cause bleeding or for the purpose of tightening or narrowing it.

The most common type of female genital mutilation is excision of the clitoris and the labia minora, accounting for up to 80% of all cases; the most extreme form is infibulation, which constitutes about 15% of all procedures.

A step in the right direction

A Georgian court has sentenced an Ethiopian immigrant to ten years in prison for administering the dastardly Female Genital Mutilation on his two-year old daughter.
This heinous act was commited in 2001, it has been revealed.

Corroborative evidence in the form of a video was presented to the court. The video shows the father, Khalid Adam, sniping his daughter's clitoris with a pair of scissors.
This was, and is, a cowardly act and should be fought against at all costs.

In the same vein, our laws here in Africa should be 'fortified' in order to tackle the root cause of this mutilation, as it is rife in some communities in this continent. Summary sentences should be instituted and administered to everyone found advocating and performing this act. Governments, especially in the horn of Africa, should be serious to nip this bug in the bud.

Our daughters are looking up to us for security. Let us not fail them on this front.