In 2020, there were 4.1 million girls worldwide at risk of undergoing female genital mutilation (FGM). FGM comprises all procedures involving the performance of an operation or intervention for the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other permanent injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
This procedure causes short- and long-term consequences for girls both physically – such as infections and difficulties with passing urine as well as others regarding their sexual and reproductive health – and mentally. For this reason, the United Nations has marked and dedicated February 6 as the ‘International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation’ as part of its efforts to eradicate female genital mutilation.
Generally, FGM is practised by an elder woman within a community who is tasked with carrying out this practice on a number of girls.
The procedure itself is painful, traumatic and often unhygienic as the tools utilised to carry out the procedure are not sterile.
In some countries, FGM is carried out in clinics and while, in these cases, the risk from poor hygiene is lower, all other risks associated with FGM remain. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), FGM is practised for a number of sociological, cultural, religious, psychosexual, socio-economic, hygiene and aesthetic reasons.
Indeed, the World Health Organisation has stated that FGM has no health benefits for girls and women. Currently, 200 million women and girls around the world are living with the harmful consequences of FGM.
At a European level, the issue of FGM has been addressed by different institutions. In February 2020, the European Parliament approved a new resolution that called for an EU strategy to end FGM and also to provide care for survivors. This resolution appeals to EU member states to encourage third countries to ban FGM and to deport convicted perpetrators.
Female genital mutilation is pure violation of the human rights of girls and women- Renee Laiviera
In Malta, all types of FGM are illegal under Maltese law. A person found guilty of carrying out or assisting in the carrying out of FGM is subject to imprisonment, ranging between three to nine years. A person found guilty of performing FGM that causes the death of the victim is subject to imprisonment ranging from between four to 20 years. Any person who fails to avert FGM is liable to a fine of between €1,000 and €5,000.
In order to look into and shed light on the needs of women who have already experienced FGM, alongside the needs of healthcare providers who work with these women, the NCPE, in 2015, published a research study on FGM in Malta as part of an EU co-funded project ‘Forms of violence in Malta – a gender perspective’.
This research helped in the development of tools which cater for different forms of violence against women, particularly the publishing of two leaflets, one for healthcare professionals and the other for migrant women.
The leaflets contain general information on FGM such as the risks that come with such a procedure, where it is most likely to be carried out and the legislation in Malta vis-à-vis FGM.
Additionally, the leaflets also include actions that can be carried out to stop such a practice in Malta, such as: reporting any known cases of FGM and referring girls and women who have undergone the procedure, or are at risk of experiencing it, to the authorities. The latter leaflet was published in Maltese and English, Arabic, Somali and Tigrinya to cater for a larger multicultural audience.
FGM is pure violation of the human rights of girls and women. The NCPE is committed to continue raising further awareness on different forms of violence on women and girls. One can get in touch with the NCPE to seek further information about adequate support services available.
The National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE) can be contacted on 2295 7850, at equality@gov.mt or via its Facebook page.
Renee Laiviera is commissioner, National Commission for the Promotion of Equality.