Adv.NISHI.S
Thiruvananthapuram: It surprising, in this ‘Gods Own Country” an evil, inhuman and primitive act, FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION (FGM), popularly known as female circumcision, is practiced with no remorse . Mostly in some northern districts of the State. Interestingly, the ever vigilant community of this Highly Literate State, always keen on reacting to “social evils”, is maintaining cynical silence about this scornfully ruthless and contemptuous act inflicted on some hapless, modest souls.
According to media reports an investigation conducted by a popular media house in the state has brought to public the shocking reality of FGM centres functioning at Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram. It is reported by various medias (print, visual and virtual) that FGM clinics function at both Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram. Health Minister K.K.Shylaja in 2017 had ordered an enquiry regarding this inhuman practice. Still the concerned Government agencies like Human Right Commission, Child Right Commission and Women’s Commission had not even took a single forward step to proceed against this, even though it is internationally recognized as violation of human right and discrimination against women. It is out of social fear, political safety, or personal safety? Then why such agencies and what for? Eventhough the Supreme Court had ordered for an enquiry it’s still a sleeping order.
As per Indian culture, Female Genital Organ is the most valued part of womanhood and is worshiped on the concept of “CREATION”, termed as “YONI POOJA”. And in such a land of sanctity, the primitive and most inhuman culture hailing from the Middle East and North Africa and many other parts of Asia performed by some particular religions which is the peak of insult to womanhood crept as a virus in the ‘brain data’ of such primitive sects, which is still under veil. It is time to protest against this; to be unveiled; to safeguard the dignity, integrity and safety of the rest of the womanhood.
Female genital mutilation is a fast growing psychic virus mostly in Middle East and North Africa as well as Asia which are under reported. FGM includes partial or total removal of the external female genital organs for non medical reasons. Mostly untrained midwifes who were victims of FGM were used to perform this unhygienic, non medical procedure in the name of primitive customs and unethical religious practices. These midwifes uses unsterilized knives, razors and even glass pieces and do this heinous act in a live human body. Even though FGM is an acute human right and women right violation, protest against this is too weak. Among various other reasons, social taboos, ignorance, fear and neglect from the authorities make women step back from reporting this violence. Even though FGM is opposed by WHO, no effective steps were taken to stop this violence, as this activity is practiced secretly. As per studies done by WHO treatment of FGM complications go up to 1.4 billion USD per year.
The women who had undergone type 3 FGM had to cut open the vaginal portion on each delivery and will get it stitched back. Thus numerous pregnancy results in numerous surgical process in the life span of women, who had undergone type 3 FGM. As FGM is an issue which the society is reluctant to discuss, it remains dormant in discussions and protest. Even though many countries had fixed ban on FGM, either they are not able to trace the victims and take action because of it’s secret nature or are unable to raise voice against such terrific activities on fear of ‘social terrorists’.
COVID -19 pandemic situation happened to be a suitable veil for such atrocities as reporting is not as easy as before. In April 2020 the United Nations announced that “due to pandemic-related disruptions in prevention programs, two million FGM cases could occur over the next decade”.
Types of FGM
Type 1- This is the partial or total removal of clitoris.
Type 2- This is the partial or total removal of clitoris and inner labia.
Type 3- This is done by removing inner and outer labia and stitched together by leaving two holes for urination and vaginal discharges and is known as infibulations.
Type 4- This includes all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia such as pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterizing the genital area.
Side effects of FGM
- Menstural problems
- Urinating problems
- Later cysts
- Viginal infections
- Sexual problems
- Complication in child birth
- Increased risk of new born deaths
- Infertility
- Death
Psychological Aspects
FGM is mostly done in infants up to the age of 15, the period of a child, which it could not even oppose or recognize what atrocities had been done to her and face it helplessly being a puppet in the hands of such uncultured primitive sect. The child could even never and ever recognize that it had undergone this type of a non medical surgical procedure. A child is not aware of its sexual organs unless taught. Even if they come to know about this procedure, they are taught with wrong knowledge, that it is good for women health and increases sexual pleasure and is to be kept as secret.
Since FGM is done for non medical reasons, it can be only for sexual abuse of women. The main reason for performing FGM is only converting women as “Sexual Tools” for perverted men. Another reason may be the identity of the caste or religion. These atrocities are shielded in the name of religion and culture. Effectively women class will be used as “SEX SLAVE” which leads to another era of slavery of women. Finally the psychological aspect of a girl taking birth in such religion or cult will get adjusted to be a “SEX SLAVE”, which is a more dangerous virus having mutation capacity than the COVID-19 pandemic. And this will affect and spread to the other class of people in the society. Once these kind of perverted people attains majority of the population, it’s highly injurious to the rest of the population and they will be forced to join such sects.
Hence such practices and culprits should be unveiled in front of the society and their citizenships to be annulled or starved to death. It is to be kept in mind that ‘HUMAN RIGHT IS APPLICABLE ONLY TO HUMANS, AND NOT FOR SUCH NON HUMANS’.
Statistics
Somalia has the highest prevalence of FGM with an estimated 98 percent of females between 15 and 49 years who experienced genital cutting. In Djibouti 93 percent, Eygpt 91 percent, Sudan 88 percent, Mauritania 69 percent, Yemen 19 percent and Iraq 7 percent were victims of FGM according to UNFPA. According to WHO more than 200 million girls and women alive today have been undergone this atrocity in 30 countries in Africa, Middle East and Asia where FGM is concentrated.
Solution
So it is highly inevitable to find out a vaccine to eradicate such a virus which is a total insult and shame to the woman hood. Human Rights Commission, Women’s Commission and Child Right Commission have no more time to sleep. Mere law making will be a mockery. Implementation should be focused while making laws. By causing permanent disfiguration to the body of a girl child/woman by one way or other, forcefully, misleading, misguiding, abetting, threatening, coercing or enticing, falls under non-compoundable, non-bailable offence. It is my suggestion that all women should be made to undergo genital checking with a team of female gynecologists, under the supervision of all the above said Commissions hand in hand with full support of Government to find out the culprits and take further action.
I also hereby call upon all the women who respect themselves, to check themselves whether they had undergone such an insult, and if found so, report before the right authorities either individually or as a team and fight against this wide spreading pandemic.
Reference
global voices.org, who.int, english mathrubhumi.com, timesof india.com, ndtv.com
The Author is a practicing Lawyer at Thiruvananthapuram