ANALYSIS OF THE UNICEF 2024 REPORT: MEDICALISATION OF FGM

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Medicalisation of FGM

The medicalisation of FGM refers to “situations in which these mutilations are performed by any category of health personnel, whether in a public or private dispensary, at home, or elsewhere” (World Health Organization, 2010). This includes doctors, physician assistants, clinicians, nurses, midwives, trained traditional birth attendants, and other personnel responsible for providing healthcare to the population in both the private and public sectors, as well as retired health workers who continue to perform FGM (ibid, 2010).

The UNICEF report highlights field observations that were part of the discussion within the CoP FGM, particularly on the thematic; MEDICALISATION OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION in 2020, which noted an increasing trend on the medicalisation of FGM.

Despite global condemnation, the medicalisation of female genital mutilation remains a significant issue. This procedure is considered a means to legitimise the practice of FGM, although it does not reduce its harmful effects. The data shows that medicalisation is prevalent and widespread in countries such as Sudan and Egypt, where medical practitioners (doctors and nurses) are involved, while in most other countries, traditional practices remain the norm.

The following figure illustrates the percentage distribution of girls aged 10 to 14 (or 15 to 19 in Indonesia) who have undergone female genital mutilation categorised by type of practitioner involved. This data highlights variations in the role of medical and traditional practitioners across different countries, shedding light on the extent of FGM medicalisation in certain regions compared to the continued reliance on traditional practices in others. This distinction is critical in understanding both the prevalence of FGM and the influence of healthcare professionals in the process

Références
  • UNICEF (2024). Global Report on Female Genital Mutilation: New Data and Progress Analysis. UNICEF. Available here