Thursday September 5, 2024
A group of Somali women and girls gather inside a makeshift shelter, discussing the harmful effects of female genital mutilation (FGM), a practice still prevalent in many parts of Somalia. Activists are working to raise awareness and bring an end to the practice. CREDIT/ VOA
In a camp for internally displaced people in Mogadishu, a 17-year-old girl who wished to remain anonymous opened up about a painful ordeal she endured as a child. At the age of 12, she was subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM), a traditional practice that has left her with lasting physical and emotional scars.
"I suffer from constant pain, infections, and nightmares," she said. "I hope my sisters never have to experience the same thing."
FGM, defined by the World Health Organization as the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons, is deeply rooted in Somali culture. It is perpetuated by the belief that women who have not undergone FGM are promiscuous or unclean. Despite the harm it causes, including chronic pain, infections, and emotional trauma, it remains widespread. According to the United Nations, 98% of Somali women aged 15 to 49 have undergone some form of FGM.
Although the practice is seen as a cultural norm, speaking about it remains taboo in many communities. "Many girls suffer in silence, afraid to speak out because of the shame associated with the topic," said the young survivor.
Shamsa Ali Muhammad, a former midwife who performed FGM for over 20 years, is now part of a growing movement to end the practice. "I once believed in FGM, but now I realize it's not circumcision—it's a violation of human rights," she said.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) echoes this sentiment, urging people to stop referring to the practice as "circumcision." Unlike male circumcision, FGM has no health benefits and poses severe risks to the well-being of girls and women.
Efforts to combat FGM in Somalia have intensified in recent years. The Ifrah Foundation, founded by Somali-Irish activist Ifrah Ahmed, has been working with local communities to change attitudes. "We train local leaders and religious figures to lead the conversation. It's critical that the push to end FGM comes from within the community," Ahmed said.
Sasa Together, another organization fighting against FGM, is also making strides by working closely with the Somali government. "We are collaborating with the Ministry of Family Affairs to create laws that will criminalize FGM and protect girls from this harmful practice," said Mohamed Mursal, a UNFPA program specialist.
While Somalia's constitution prohibits FGM, describing it as cruel and degrading, no national law explicitly criminalizes the practice. Activists argue that without legal enforcement, FGM will continue to harm generations of Somali women.
Until such laws are in place, advocates like Ahmed and Muhammad say they will continue to raise awareness and push for change, one conversation at a time.
Despite global efforts to stop the practice of female genital mutilation, the harmful tradition continues to affect the lives and health of millions of women and girls in Somalia. Reporter Najib Ahmed has this story from the capital, Mogadishu.