Programme to raise awareness about FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION (FGM)

1. ¿Qué dice la ley? Programme to raise aware-
ness about FEMALE GENI-
TAL MUTILATION (FGM)
Twitter: @DemusaOrg
Email: gisdmu@demusa.org
www.demusa.org
Which ethnic groups prac-
tise FGM?
 Ethnic groups that practise
FGM: Sarahule, Djola, Mandinka,
Fula, Soninke, Bambara, Dogon, Edo,
Hausa, Fante
 Ethnic groups that do not
practise FGM: Wolof, Serer,
Manjack.
Where is FGM practised?
Ilustración mapa
It affects 200 million women and girls
worldwide. Its after-effects make it
one of the greatest violations of
women’s and girls’ rights
(Unicef, 2016)
FGM IS A FORM OFVIOLENCE
AGAINSTWOMENTHAT PUTS
THEIR HEALTH AT RISK

2. Partial or total removal of the ex-
ternal female genitalia, or other
injury to the female genital organs
for non-medical reasons (WHO, 2015)
Different reasons are used to justify this
practice:
 Socio-cultural
“It’s a matter of customs; it’s my people's tradition”
 Health-related
“It will make childbirth easier”
“Sunna increases fertility”
“The clitoris can damage the baby during child-
birth”
 Hygiene-cosmetic
“A woman who has been cut is a clean woman”
 Religious-spiritual
“To enter the mosque she has to be pure; you
can’t pray if you have not been cut”
 Sexual factors
“Protege la virginidad y la fidelidad de las
mujeres”
The Spanish Criminal Code pun-
ishes FGM with a 6 to 12 year prison
sentence for grievous bodily harm,
even if the minor consents to this
practice being performed.
Organic law 11/2003. Art. 149.2
What does the law say about
FGM?
Types of FMG
What is Female Genital Mutila-
tion (FGM)?
Type 4. Other procedures that involve injuring
the female genital organs for non-medical rea-
sons.
Why is FGM performed? What consequences does it
have for women’s and girls’
health?
 Bleeding, acute and chronic anae-
mia, shock and death.
 Intense pain.
 Acute and chronic infections (HIV-
AIDS, hepatitis)
 Damage to surrounding tissue.
 Obstetric-gynaecological compli-
cations
 Psychosocial problems
 Sexual problems
Remember: this is a summary of the arguments, but it
does not mean that all families use all of them. Some-
times they will only justify FGM with one or several inter-
related arguments.