Female Genital Mutilation Officially Banned In Nigeria

In May of this year, Nigeria passed a law banning female genital mutilation, sometimes called cutting or female circumcision. This historic decision apparently didn’t make huge headlines here in the western world, and I didn’t hear about it until just now. Even though I’m late to the party, this is something huge and it is worth discussing.

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On May 5, 2015, the Nigerian Senate passed the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act of 2015, and in doing so, banned the genital mutilation that countless girls have endured for generations.

It was one of the final acts of outgoing president Goodluck Jonathan. African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies says that the law:

“…prohibits female circumcision or genital mutilation, forceful ejection from home and harmful widowhood practices. It prohibits abandonment of spouse, children and other dependents without sustenance, battery and harmful traditional practices.”

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But what is female genital mutilation (or FGM, for short)? Well, the World Health Organization explains that it is classified into four major types:

“Clitoridectomy: partial or total removal of the clitoris (a small, sensitive and erectile part of the female genitals) and, in very rare cases, only the prepuce (the fold of skin surrounding the clitoris).

Excision: partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majora (the labia are “the lips” that surround the vagina).

Infibulation: narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal. The seal is formed by cutting and repositioning the inner, or outer, labia, with or without removal of the clitoris.

Other: all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, e.g. pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterizing the genital area.”

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FGM holds no medical benefits and causes only pain and harm. Long term consequences of FGM include urinary tract infections, infertility, increased newborn mortality rate, and the need for more extensive surgeries later in life. Short term complications range from infection to blood loss to death.

The age range for girls who face FGM is between infancy and about 15. Yes, this barbaric procedure is performed on infants, and WHO reports that more than 3 million girls are at risk of FGM annually.

In addition, between 125-130 million girls and women alive today have been cut due to the practice. 130,000,000.

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The new ban is a huge step in the right direction for Nigeria, and is a glimmer of hope for women who live in the remaining 28 countries where cutting is routinely performed.