The idea of intentionally harming – let alone mutilating – healthy young girls stirs deep feelings of cruelty, anger and injustice. The fact that thousands of girls are mutilated daily in the name of culture, religion, or gender is difficult to imagine. Yet this is the reality – more than 100 million girls and women around the world have been mutilated in the most personal, intimate parts of their bodies. This is considered by most communities that practice it as a rite-of-passage from girlhood to womanhood. It is further considered – paradoxically – as a means to hinder the young women from sexual misconduct! It is deeply rooted in the Somali people’s cultures, religions, superstitious beliefs, witchcraft’s, myths, fear, ignorance and insecurity.
The lack of a strong curriculum on sexual and child‐rite development, the fact that discussing on sex and sexuality are hardly spoken freely in this community and women are not given the opportunity to contribute to the decision making, coupled with the weakening of moral fiber of the youth has strengthened the support of FGM as a congenital rite of passage. In this light, the people of Somali origin – be they Kenyan or of refugee status – have increasingly practiced it and thus causing untold suffering to the female victims. Safe Womanhood has over the time dealt with issues and complications arising from the practice especially during child birth for women. FGM – sometimes also called Female Genital Cutting or female circumcision – comprises all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external genitals of girls and women for non-medical reasons.
The practice has no health benefits and brings harm and grave pain to the women. FGM damages normal female genital tissues and interferes with natural functioning. The devastating health and social effects to women are both immediate and long term. The effects on health include urinary and reproductive tract infections, which can lead to infertility. FGM makes childbearing more difficult, increasing the risk of death during childbirth for mothers and their babies. The re-use of razorblades may increase the risk of HIV. Safe Womanhood therefore provides avenues for the eradication of the practice. It is important to note here that approaches to FGM eradication have had to change with time as implementers of programs have continued to learn and share more ideas on what seems to work for the various communities.
