User:Boluwatife Arowosafe/Female genital mutilation in Nigeria

Female Genital Mutilation in Nigeria
Female Genital Mutilation is a practice that is rooted with African culture, it is the partial or complete removal of the female clitoris for cultural or religious reasons. Culturally, it is done to enhance the marriageability of a woman because she will be preserved for marriage. In cases of Female Genital Mutilation women will not be able to have sexual intercourse, this ensures that premarital sex does not take place. It is also done sometimes to enhance the social status of families that have their female children undergo the process because it means they have virgin children. In religious cases, there is no evidence of female genital mutilation and cutting being allowed. It does not have a religious background.

Nigerians practice the following forms of female genital cutting/mutilation:


 * Type I, clitoridectomy: Removing the clitoral hood and at least part of the clitoris: This is also called ritualistic circumcision. intros case, the clitoris is nicked to cause bleeding. This is the least harmful type of mutilation and does not cause any long term damage.
 * Type II, sunna: Removing the full clitoris and part of the labia minora: This full removal of the full clitoris and the outer layer covering the clitoris. The clitoris is generally not damaged.
 * Type III, infibulation: Removing the clitoris, labia minora, and labia majora. This also involves stitching the vaginal opening with a minuscule hole for urination and menstrual bleeding. This is a harsher form of mutilation.
 * Type IV: Other unclassified forms of FGM may involve pricking, stretching, cauterization, or inserting herbs into the vagina. . In this case, the external female genitalia is removed with most of the labia major being cut or scraped away . The rest of the labia majora and vaginal opening is sewn together.

Clitoridectomies are more common in the south of the country, and the more extreme methods, like infibulation, are prevalent in the north. Often times tools like kitchen knives and broken glass are used to perform the cut.They are not usually sterilized before usage. It is a forceful act and is performed with the victim being held down by many women in the society.

Consequences of Female Genital Mutilation
According to the World Health Organization, Female Genital Mutilation has no real health benefits. It has short and long term health risks that affect girls and women that have to undergo the procedure. It negatively affects the natural functioning of the female reproductive system and violates their human rights also.

Risks, Short-term
When Female Genital Mutilation takes place, the first risk is shock. It is not an appropriate procedure for the female body so the excessive pain can cause a female to go into shock. Excessive bleeding will also happen which could cause hemorrhage because a clitoral artery or blood vessel has been improperly cut. Complications with urination could also happen because in some excessive cases the labia majora is sewn together. This blocks the opening of the bladder and makes urination very difficult and sometimes just impossible. Urination issues could also be due to tissue swelling and pain in the urethra. Many infections are bound to happen because of the way the process takes place. Female Genital Mutilation is mostly done under unsanitary conditions, using non-sterile sharp objects to perform the cutting. Because of these conditions, the girls and women are subject to infections like wound infections and long term diseases like Human Immunodeficiency Virus which is caused by using contaminated objects.

Mentally, Female Genital Mutilation could be damning to a person. It is bound to cause psychological distress to a person that has to undergo it. In children, loss of confidence and trust could take place. Children will no longer trust the people that are supposed to care for and protect them because of the pain that has been caused. It is known that Female Genital Cutting is often done by female elders in the society. These are the people that usually also care for the children so these children could associate their caregivers with pain. The pain and trauma that goes along the cutting and mutilation could cause severe depression.

Risks, Long-term
Long term, Female Genital Mutilation and cutting has major effects on the sexual and reproductive health of a woman. Out of all the types of mutilations, the type with most negative long-term effects is Type III infibulation. Child birth is immediately affected when female genital cutting happens. In infibulation, the clitoris and labia major and minora are removed and the vaginal opening is sewn together. Because of this closing, there is almost no chance of child brith even though premarital sex is ultimately preserved. Reproduction can no longer take place. There are also different lasting injuries that could happen like chronic genital and reproductive tract infections, cysts and scar injuries could form. Because of the sewing of the vaginal opening together, there could be an accumulation of menstrual flow at the vagina and urethra. This causes major diseases and infections.

Activism
Organizations seeking to end FGC/M in Nigeria include the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, African Union, Devatop Centre for Africa Development, the Economic Commission for Africa, the Coalition of Advocates against Violence and the Population Council. as well as Justice, Development and Peace Movement (JDPM) of the Catholic diocese of Oyo.

The Circumcision Descendants Association of Nigeria (CDAN)—a group whose members perform FGM in Nigeria, has advocated to end the practice by creating new government programs and economic opportunities for those who perform female genital mutilation.

In May of 2015 former Nigerian president, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, signed off on a law that permanently bans Female Genital Mutilation and cutting. The Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP) aims to permanently prohibit female circumcision by including a penalty. People caught committing the crime are liable to two years in prison and a fine of one hundred thousand Naira. Even with the new law, as of 2015 female circumcision was still practiced in six states. The VAPP act was a nationwide response that the former president had to the constant practice of Female Genital Mutilation. In 2018, an event organized by UN Women, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Nigerian Mission to the UN, with other partners to help promote change of perceptions for the women in Africa. Highlighting themes such as human trafficking, suicide bombing, female genital mutilation/cutting and sexism and sexual harassment at the United Nations, Ms. Itua, one of the presenters of the UN showcase the importance of women taking an active role in their nations said "As an African woman, I believe that my goal is to work with other women in creating awareness. Together we are stronger. Working together to be stronger to change the narrative coming out of Africa." .

In many rural areas of Nigeria, Female Genital Mutilation is still practiced. In these parts of Nigeria education is not easily accessed. It is important that Nigerian citizens are properly educated on the dangers and negative effects of female circumcision. According to studies, health education positively affects the attitude people have towards FGM. With education, people are informed of the VAPP act and how the nation can fright against communities that still do not understand the negativities that come with female circumcision.

Other Nigerian organizations that constantly fight and protect girls and women from Female Genital Mutilation are:


 * The Center for Social Value and Early Childhood Development
 * Value Female Network
 * The Center for Women's Studies and Intervention