The World Health Organization defines female genital mutilation (FGM) as the practice that “[…] involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia or other injuries to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.” Nowadays, FGM is considered by most of the International Community as a violation of the human rights of both women and girls. However, such a practice still survives in many African states, among which is Somalia.
In 1991, before the collapse of the Somali government, there was a spread consensus on abolishing FGM. However, with the beginning of the civil war, every attempt to stop such a practice failed. As a consequence, despite the last 25 years of campaigning, today Somalia has no national legislation that expressly criminalizes FGM. Moreover, according to the surveys, Somalia is one of the countries with the highest level of support for such a practice: indeed, in 2006, more than a half of the female population used to be in favor of FGM.
In Somalia, FGM is generally justified as a practice related to purity, virginity, and control of unwanted sexuality. It is usually performed between the ages of five and eleven. As UNICEF reports, it is so deeply rooted in the Somali culture that about 98% of Somali women aged between 15 and 49 have undergone it. Today, it has been demonstrated that FGM – no matter why, where, and by whom it is performed – has no health benefits for girls or women and is significantly likely to end in long-term health risks.
Evidence suggests that, over time, there has been little change about FGM in Somalia. The current conception of such a harmful practice can and must be tackled. Raising awareness among local organizations, religious leaders, politicians, and the population itself represents the only way to start discouraging, fighting, and finally abolishing FGM.
By Simone M. Russo