What is female genital mutilation?
Female genital mutilation is a tradition where part of a
girl's/woman's external sexual organs are removed. The tradition is
mostly practised in Africa but also in certain other countries.
Genital mutilation is also called female circumcision. Today we
usually refer to it as mutilation, since it better describes the
actual nature of the operation. In this brochure we use both terms
to refer to the same operation.
Genital mutilation is performed in various ways according to
different traditions. In the smallest incision the genitals are
wounded so as to shed a few drops of blood. In the largest incision
a girl's external sexual organs are removed and the edges sewn up
(Pharaonic operation).
During recent centuries people have justified circumcision by
religious reasons. The Koran and the Bible do not, however, support
the tradition. Even religious leaders are in general of the opinion
that mutilation of female genitals cannot be defended on religious
grounds.
Types of circumcision
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), female circumcision can be divided into four different types:
- Excision of the prepuce, with or without excision of part or the entire clitoris.
- excision of the clitoris with partial or total excision of the labia minora (sometimes referred to as excisio).
- Excision of part or all of the external genitalia and stitching/narrowing of the vaginal opening, leaving only a tiny opening to allow the passage of urine and menstrual blood (infibulations or pharaonic circumcision).
- Several unclassified customs: pricking, piercing or incising
of the clitoris and/or labia; stretching of the clitoris and/or
labia; cauterization by burning of the clitoris and surrounding
tissue; scraping of tissue surrounding the vaginal orifice
(angurya cuts) or cutting of the vagina (gishiri cuts);
introduction of corrosive substances or herbs into the vagina to
cause bleeding or for the purpose of tightening or narrowing it;
and any other procedure that falls under the definition given
above.
Health damages
Besides the physical health damages described below, a
circumcision often causes a girl/woman permanent mental health
complaints.
The operation itself - often performed under unhygienic conditions
- may cause serious harms such as abundant bleeding, pain shock and
inflammation, including their consequences.
The menstruation of an operated girl/woman may be very painful. An
extensive operation may mean that menstrual blood or urine cannot
pass in a natural way. This can lead to urinary infections, lack of
proper kidney function, infections of the sexual organs, even
infertility.
Problems in sex life in marriage.
There may be problems in childbirth - endangering the health, even
the lives, of both the baby and mother.
Womanhood and virginity
The human body is most beautiful in its natural form. Genital
mutilation causes irreversible damages to a woman.
A woman is a virgin until she has had a sexual intercourse with a
man. Although circumcision is believed to be a guarantee of a
woman's virginity, the circumcision is not the same thing as
virginity. There are both circumcised women with extramarital
relationships and uncircumcised women who never have a sexual
relationship other than within marriage.
In all societies parents desire to protect their children.
Children must, indeed, be protected but there are other means than
circumcision, which only harms the child.
Mutilation of genitals is a crime in Finland
The countries that have ratified the United Nations Convention
of the Rights of the Child (Finland included) have committed
themselves to eliminating circumcision. The Convention obliges the
signatories to protect children's rights.
In Finland children have the same rights whether they are
originally Finnish or from another country. The physical integrity
of children is strongly protected by legislation.
Mutilation of women's and girls' genitals is a punishable act
under the Finnish Penal Code. Depending on the seriousness of the
act the person performing or assisting in a circumcision may be
sentenced to several years' imprisonment. This is also the case
when a person resident in Finland is taken abroad for mutilation. A
person who has been proved to have incited to such a crime may be
sentenced in the same way as the perpetrator, even though he or she
would not have taken part in carrying out the mutilation.
A person who knows in advance that an aggravated inflicting of
bodily injury is being prepared for, is under penalty of punishment
responsible to report it to the authorities and thus prevent the
act (Penal Code, chapter 15, section 10). The reporting duty does
not apply to the next of kin. It, however, displaces the secrecy
obligations, as well as the duty of notification laid down in
section 30 of the Child Welfare Act.
It is the responsibility of social welfare and health care
personnel and teachers to intervene in situations where a child's
health and development are threatened. In accordance with the Child
Welfare Act a child is entitled to a secure and stimulating growing
environment and to a well-balanced development. If the
circumstances in which the child grows jeopardise or do not protect
his or her health and development, the authorities must undertake
measures under the Child Welfare Act. In order to protect a girl it
is even possible, depending on the situation, to take her into
care, away from the parents, if she is at risk of being or has been
circumcised.
Where to get help and information?
Since the female genital mutilation can cause serious physical
and mental health problems, people coming from countries where
mutilation is practised have themselves began to act to eliminate
this practice in their own country and elsewhere. It is important
that correct information is given to families in which circumcision
has been a tradition.
In case of harms relating to genital mutilation, or if you
otherwise wish to receive more information about the matter, get in
touch with health care professionals. Help and care is available
for such problems, and opening operations are performed in Finland.
If you want, you can request to be allowed to visit a female
public health nurse or physician. You may bring close relatives
with you to the consultation.
Help and advice is provided by:
- Health centres: public health nurses at mother and child clinics, physicians;
- School health nurses.
Published by Finnish Centre for Health Promotion
Distributed and maintained by Finnish Centre for Health Promotion
tel. +358(0)9 725 30300
fax. +358(0)9 725 30320
