Mutilation: Ending the cutting tradition
There was a great wailing by Mmirimma’s relatives the night she died. They didn’t cry because Mmirimma died at a time she was ripe to be useful to her family and society, but because she was a victim of harmful traditional practice that involves the cutting or removing of her external genitals.
It was not only Mmirimma that died as a result of this practice. In several other communities, especially at the grassroots, many young girls and women had died because a loathsome cultural practice was forced on them. With significant population growth, especially among the youth, investing in young people becomes indispensable. That is why this International Day will focus on mobilising youths around the world for the elimination of harmful practices, including female genital mutilation.Investigations revealed that religion, tradition and custom are the driving forces for the practice of FGM, which subjects women to dehumanising agony.
It is also an erroneous belief that FGM ensures and preserves girls’ or women’s virginity. With the current waning of societal values, this notion seriously invalidates this perception. Female genital mutilation cannot provide any solution as we are all witnesses of moral debasement among our young girls, who underwent the so-called removal of the clitoris, which enhances sexual enjoyment during intercourse. The primitively harmful practice should be done away with, if need be through legislation.”
“It is believed to check promiscuity in young girls and women since the part of the female private part that induces sexual pleasure is cut out. It aims at ensuring premarital virginity and marital fidelity,” she said.
Sometimes genital tissue is stitched again several times, including after childbirth, hence the woman goes through repeated opening and closing procedures.
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