Progress to prevent female genital mutilation needs to be ‘27 times faster’, says UN

Progress to prevent female genital mutilation needs to be ‘27 times faster’, says UN

The number of girls and women who have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM) has increased by 15% in the past eight years, according to new data.

Figures released by the UN children’s agency, Unicef, show that more than 230 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM, compared with 200 million in 2016. The trend is towards girls being cut at a younger age, said Unicef executive director Catherine Russell.

“Female genital mutilation harms girls’ bodies, dims their futures, and endangers their lives,” she said. “We’re also seeing a worrying trend that more girls are subjected to the practice at younger ages, many before their fifth birthday. That further reduces the window to intervene. We need to strengthen the efforts of ending this harmful practice.”

Work to eliminate the practice by the UN’s target date of 2030 would need to be happening 27 times faster than it is now, Unicef said. FGM is not becoming more common globally, but more girls are being born in FGM-practising countries in comparison with the rest of the world.

  • @thisbenzingring@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
    -3•9 months ago

    You think most men are somehow unaware of what circumcision is and whether or not it was done to them?

    Would you be surprised to know that most Christian and Jewish men are circumcised? In Western countries it was considered normal regardless of religion because it was believed to reduce medical problems.

    Do those men know? I’ve known grown men that didn’t know until the difference was shown to them. Because having it done doesn’t change your life. Again it’s not the same with FGM.

    • @gamermanh@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      0•9 months ago

      Would you be surprised to know that most Christian and Jewish men are circumcised?

      Not in the slightest, because I’ve known that since I was a kid. As has every guy I know. Literally just go to a porn website, “uncut” and “uncircumcised” are fucking categories, it’s that common knowledge.

      Do those men know

      See above

      I’ve known grown men that didn’t know until the difference was shown to them

      I’ll grant you maybe knew one. I sincerely doubt it was more than one unless you grew up strict Christian or similar. Or 50 years ago before it was taught in sex ed classes. Which is fine, but also not most men in this day and age.

      Because having it done doesn’t change your life

      Someone at my school was bullied so hard they changed schools because their circumcision wasn’t done correctly and they had a bit of a wonky scar. Got seen in the locker room one day, never lived it down.

      I’ve known multiple men who were made fun of by women for being cut AND being uncut, because people suck.

      Also the nerves and sensitivity thing, though idk how true it actually is

      Is it the same life change? No. Is it still being treated differently because you were mutilated as a baby? Yes.