Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures involving the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or any other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.

• Female genital mutilation (FGM) includes procedures that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons ~WHO
• The procedure has no health benefits for girls and women ~WHO
• Procedures can cause severe bleeding and problems urinating, and later cysts, infections, as well as complications in childbirth and increased risk of newborn deaths ~WHO
• More than 200 million girls and women alive today have been cut in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where FGM is concentrated ~WHO
• FGM is mostly carried out on young girls between infancy and age 15 ~WHO
• FGM is a violation of the human rights of girls and women ~WHO

• More than 200 million girls and women alive today have been cut in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where FGM is concentrated ~WHO
• 3 million girls undergo some form of the procedure every year in Africa alone, practiced in 28 countries. ~WHO

Female genital mutilation is classified into 4 major types.

• Type 1:  clitoridectomy, this is the 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) ~WHO
• Type 2: excision, this is the partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora (the inner folds of the vulva), with or without excision of the labia majora (the outer folds of skin of the vulva ) ~WHO
• Type 3: Often referred to as infibulation, this is the narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal. The seal is formed by cutting and repositioning the labia minora, or labia majora, sometimes through stitching, with or without removal of the clitoris (clitoridectomy) ~WHO
• Type 4: This includes all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, e.g. pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterizing the genital area ~WHO

Long-term consequences can include:

• painful urination and urinary tract infections
• vaginal problems which include discharge, itching, bacterial vaginosis and other infections
• menstrual problems like painful menstruations, difficulty in passing menstrual blood etc.
• formation of scar tissue and keloids
• Pain during intercourse and decreased satisfaction etc.
• increased risk of childbirth complications. Eg. difficult delivery, excessive bleeding, caesarean section, need to resuscitate the baby, etc.) and newborn deaths;
• need for later surgeries: Eg. the FGM procedure that seals or narrows a vaginal opening (type 3) needs to be cut open later to allow for sexual intercourse and childbirth (deinfibulation). Sometimes genital tissue is stitched again several times, including after childbirth, hence the woman goes through repeated opening and closing procedures, further increasing both immediate and long-term risks;
• psychological problems (depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, low self-esteem, etc.);
• health complications of female genital mutilation.

PROHIBITION OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION ACT (Picks)

FGM Definition

1. All procedures involving partial or total removal of the female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs
2. Any harmful procedure to the female genitalia, for non-medical reasons

FGM includes:

1. Clitoridectomy, which is the partial or total removal of the clitoris or the prepuce;
2. Excision, which is the partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majora;
3. Infibulation, which is the narrowing of the vaginal orifice with the creation of a covering seal by cutting and appositioning the labia minora or the labia majora, with or without excision of the clitoris

FGM does not include a sexual reassignment procedure or a medical procedure

that has a genuine therapeutic purpose;

PART IV – OFFENCES

19. Offence of female genital mutilation

(1) A person, including a person undergoing a course of training while under

supervision by a medical practitioner or midwife with a view to becoming a

medical practitioner or midwife, who performs female genital mutilation on

another person commits an offence.

OFFENCES, 32, 2011 #EndFGM

(2) If in the process of committing an offence under subsection (1) a person

causes the death of another, that person shall, on conviction, be liable to

imprisonment for life.

OFFENCES, 32, 2011 #EndFGM

It is no defence to a charge under this section that the person on whom

the act involving female genital mutilation was performed consented to that act,

or that the person charged believed that such consent had been given.

OFFENCES, 32, 2011 #EndFGM

A person commits an offence if the person, being aware that an offence of

female genital mutilation has been, is in the process of being, or intends to be,

committed, fails to report accordingly to a law enforcement officer.

OFFENCES, 32, 2011 #EndFGM

A person commits an offence if the person takes another person from Kenya

to another country, or arranges for another person to be brought into Kenya from

another country, with the intention of having that other person subjected to

female genital mutilation.

OFFENCES, 32, 2011 #EndFGM

A person who knowingly allows any premises, for which that person is in

control of, or responsible for, to be used for purposes of performing female

genital mutilation commits an offence.

OFFENCES, 32, 2011 #EndFGM

A person commits an offence if the person, being aware that an offence of

female genital mutilation has been, is in the process of being, or intends to be,

committed, fails to report accordingly to a law enforcement officer.

OFFENCES, 32, 2011 #EndFGM

Anyone using derogatory or abusive language intended to

ridicule, embarrass or otherwise harm a woman for having not undergone female

genital mutilation, or a man for marrying or otherwise supporting a woman who

has not undergone female genital mutilation, commits an offence.

OFFENCES, 32, 2011 #EndFGM

A person who is found in possession of a tool or equipment for a purpose

connected with the performance of female genital mutilation, commits an offence.

OFFENCES, 32, 2011 #EndFGM