The Day Kadi Lost Part of Her Life A Photostory on FGM Permission to use images and text should be directed to Spinifex Press FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT FGM FGM:The Position in Australia Further Reading FORWARD Foundation for Women's Health, Research & Development

WHAT IS Female Genital Mutilation? Female genital mutilation - also commonly known as female circumcision - is an extreme example of efforts common to societies around the world to manipulate women's sexuality, ensure their subjugation and control their reproductive functions. Nahid Toubia, Female Genital Mutilation: A Call for Global Action p. 5 FGM is an extremely sensitive issue as it encompasses areas that are traditionally in the private and/or personal realm, including sexuality and reproductive and cultural issues. The extremity of the procedure varies widely between different countries and cultures. Cases have been documented in certain cultures in which the clitoris is merely pricked or washed in rite of passage rituals, through to the radical removal of sexual organs and surrounding tissue followed by sewing up of the ensuing raw surfaces to form a barrier over the vaginal opening. However, the term FGM is reserved to describe ritualistic practices where actual cutting and removal of sexual organs takes place.1

The various procedures are classified as follows -

Clitoridectomy (Type I): amputation of sections of, or all of the clitoris

Excision (Type II): amputation of the clitoris and the labia minora

Infibulation (Type III): as in type II, with further cuts being made to the labia majora to cause raw surfaces which are then either sewn or clipped together or held together by tying of the legs to cause the two flaps to join together to form a "hood" over the vaginal opening. A small opening is left for the purposes of urination, menstruation and intercourse²

There are no identified benefits from the practice. Many women and girls who have undergone genital mutilation experience immediate and on-going physical and psychological consequences.

FGM is a traditional, ritualised event, usually performed on young girls between the ages of four to twelve years old. Anaesthetic is either not used, or used in an extremely token fashion; cutting implements used, such as pieces of glass or pocket knives, are frequently unsterilised and unsharpened. Hygiene standards are also often poor. The physical complications of FGM can be divided into short and long term. Haemorrhage, shock, injury to the anus or urethra and septicemia are just some of the possible results of clitodectomy or infibulation within the first few weeks after the procedures, while HIV infection, urinary tract infection, abcess, dermoid cysts, and reproductive tract infections are all possible long term complications. Many or all of these complications can lead to the death, infertility or difficulties for the girl-child or woman. ³

FGM IS NOT A MEDICAL PROCEDURE THAT PRODUCES ANY LEGITIMATE THERAPEUTIC EFFECT.

The psychological trauma of FGM often lasts a life time. The ongoing health problems are highly debilitating; infibulation in particular causes ongoing distress, as the onset on sexual intercourse and childbirth necessitates the opening of the "hood" of thick, and usually impenetrable, scar tissue over the vaginal entrance - either by manual dilation over a period of time to allow intercourse or, commonly, the cutting open of the "hood" to facilitate either sexual penetration or the passage of a baby. Many women are then re-infibulated, only to be cut open again and again when their subsequent pregnancies reach term.

I screamed with pain despite the tight hand held over my mouth, for the pain was not just a pain, it was like a searing flame that went through my whole body. After a few moments, I saw a red pool of blood around my hips.

¹ Female Genital Mutilation: A Call for Global Action p.9

²ibid. p.10

³ibid. p.14