On the occasion of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, the association Génération Femmes d’Afrique et d’Ailleurs (GFAA) and the city of Nice organized an awareness evening on Friday, February 6, at the Mediterranean University Center. The purpose of this event is to inform and denounce an ancient practice that destroys many women.
It is 2015, and yet that means nothing because female genital mutilation (FGM) continues to kill. Every year, 3 million women are mutilated in order to “preserve their chastity,” as some beliefs dictate. A grim toll indicative of extreme and persistent barbarity. Often, those who inflict it do not even spare infants. Using a razor, a knife, or a pair of scissors, they take the liberty of cutting young girls aged 4 to 12 years. Some, even more radical, apply acid to the clitoris.
Professor André Bongain, a specialist in reconstructive surgery at the University Hospital of Nice, is one of only two professors in France who practice reconstructive surgery for women who have been amputated. He describes four types of mutilations:
- Circumcision with excision of the clitoral hood without clitoral excision
- Excision of the clitoris with partial or total excision of the labia minora. This accounts for 80% of the mutilations
- Infibulation with almost complete closure of the vulvar opening. This accounts for 15% of the mutilations
- Other methods of mutilation
Consequences
Death by hemorrhage
Excruciating pain (neurogenic shock)
Additional injuries to the perineum
Acute urinary retention
Retention of menstrual blood causing cysts
Acute infections (abscess, tetanus, gas gangrene, etc.)
Transmission of HIV
In the long term, this can lead to infertility in women. An excised woman experiences sexual and psychological complications. She suffers from depression, anxiety, fear of sexual intercourse, and fear of childbirth, among other issues.
Kardiatou Sy, President of the GFAA association, stresses: “Excision is not so far away. It is practiced in France in the shadows. Let us fight together so that we no longer hear about it.”
“We have been meeting for six years now. I dream that we no longer need to celebrate the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM. Unfortunately, there are 55,000 excised women in France. They have not all been excised on French territory. But in certain neighborhoods, in certain cities, girls continue to be mutilated,” added Maty Diouf, deputy mayor, delegate for women.
A Possible Remedy
Gradually, excision is retreating but still persists. It continues to threaten the health of young girls and erode their dignity over time. Today, repair is possible, and it is covered by health insurance. There are no fees to be paid to either the anesthetist or the surgeon. Any woman victim can turn to medical assistance and regain her integrity. Anyone witnessing this cruel act is obliged to report it. In France, a person who inflicts excision on a woman faces severe legal penalties ranging from 10 to 20 years in prison.
