The reason for having international days is to spread awareness about important issues all over the world. It might seem strange that we have an International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation in today’s world. Are we really suffering and still have these kinds of issues?

Do girls still suffer and must undergo such cruelty? Why are we suffering from cases that should have been eliminated long ago in the 21st century? Does violence still exist?  At a time when everyone should think about health and how to achieve and preserve it, there are those who aim to harm our health. 

“I call on men and boys everywhere to add their voices to mine in demanding an end to female genital mutilation and moving forward towards that goal, for the benefit of all.”
– UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.¹

In this article we are going to talk about this day and why it exists. We will also talk about circumcision for girls, its harms, and the efforts made to stop this violent practice.

International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation

In 2012, the UN General Assembly designated February 6th as the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation. The United Nations have done significant work to make this day reach the entire world to consider the consequence of this practice. What’s unbelievable is that 4.32 million girls worldwide will be subject to female genital mutilation in 2023 alone.¹

UNFPA, together with UNICEF, has been leading the world’s largest program to accelerate the elimination of female genital mutilation (FGM). The program currently focuses on 17 countries in Africa and the Middle East and also supports regional and global initiatives. It is important to know that this partnership supported more than 6 million girls and women. Thirteen countries have also established the legal frameworks needed to ban this harmful practice, as well as building a program for funding the national budget articles in order to address this problem.¹

This makes it important to educate ourselves about the harms of circumcision on the body and soul of the girl.

What is circumcision and what are its harms? 

The term female genital mutilation (FGM) refers to all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genitalia for cultural or other non-medical reasons.²

Female genital mutilation is a clear violation of girls and women rights. It is also a global crime that we are still suffering from today. Circumcision does not have any medical benefits, on the contrary, its harm can take a girl’s life. Some of these harms include:

1- Severe pain in the genital area.

2- Severe bleeding.

3- Gynecological diseases and septic infection of the genital area.

4- Partial or complete loss of pleasure and sexual arousal and it can also lead to sexual impotence.

5- Psychological trauma.

6- Difficulties during childbirth.³

The harms of this brutal operation are multiple and dangerous. So have the United Nations and international organizations been able to make progress on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation?

The most important achievements of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation

The United Nations, together with UNICEF, were able to achieve a significant achievement in light of the spread of circumcision. The joint program was able to combat many harmful acts, and also included additional programs to empower girls. The most important achievements of the UN in this regard are:²

1. The National Committee to Eradicate FGM:
   The UNFPA-UNICEF joint program supported the establishment of the National Committee to Eradicate FGM, through this committee the United Nations cooperated with civil society to combat female genital mutilation. It also supported a number of campaigns such as the #ProtectHerFromFGM which included a radio campaign.
2. Door-knocking campaigns:
   The national door-knocking campaign was launched to reach women and girls and their families in rural areas through house visits to raise awareness and provide advice on FGM elimination.
3. FGM on TV:
   Programs dealing with female genital mutilation, child marriage, and violence against women were shown on television.
4. Girls empowerment:
   The UNFPA supported the National Council for Childhood and motherhood in launching (the DOI) initiative, which means a voice that has an impact or resonance. This initiative aims to represent a society that supports all the abilities of girls and their access to the best opportunities and improves their skills.
5. Training to address harmful practices:
   In an effort to combat FGM and child marriage in governorates where they are highly prevalent, the UNFPA supported many Community Development Associations to raise awareness and provide prevention and response services on FGM and child marriage.

On the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, we ask everyone to take a minute and think about the harms of this procedure. We in the Uplifting Syrian Women Initiative are working hard in order to be with this group as supporters and warriors, seeking to spread awareness in successive generations until we finally get rid of this phenomenon and reach a better world.

Also read:

• Violence against women.
• Human Rights Day.
• International Day of Human Fraternity.

References:

[1] UN

[2] UNFPA

[3] Gynuity