Social awareness on ‘Female Genital Mutilation’ : Nahla Hussein’s story

प्रकाशित मिति: २७ चैत्र २०७४, मंगलवार

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), also known as female circumcision is a practice found in the Africa, Asia, and the middle East. It is the ritual procedure to partial cutting or total removal of external female genitalia for the discussed medical reason. This procedure typically carried out by a traditional circumciser using blade. It is conducted from days after birth to puberty and beyond.

After FGM the girl may suffer from different health problems such as recurrent infections, difficulty in urinating and passing menstrual flow, chronic pain and complications during birthing and fatal bleeding. There are no known health benefits for this action. Still it is on practice for the reason that it controls women’s sexuality. FGM is motivated by social norm and beliefs to ensure premarital virginity and marital fidelity. It is believed that it reduces the women’s libido that is why it is expected to help women resist extra marital sexual acts.

Even in the 21st century, females have been facing this kind of unwanted procedure. This practice is also rooted by gender inequality and violation against girls and women. I am going to present a lady’s voice who had been gone through this procedure. Her name is Nahla Hussein from Sudan. It is only a small hand for women to increase the advocacy and help to end FGM within the existing generation.

“I was five  years old when I have undergone Female Genital Mutilation with my two younger sisters. We were living in small village which is far away from the capital city of Khartoum and there was no policy intervention from the government to restrict this practice. FGM was widespread. The local community is very strict regarding this issue. Despite its consequences it considered as a cornerstone of the tradition and it is not apparently supported in belief system. Here, every single little girl should be circumcised, otherwise the community will put pressure on the parents to do that.

So like many girls my family decided to circumcise us. In that day I was so happy with the ceremony and the henna in my hands, having no idea what comes next. I thought it would be something joyful as all the girls at my age have gone through the same ritual. After a while the neighbors, relatives and friends started to dance and sing along with each other, music and applause were everywhere. Suddenly the woman who supposed to do the operation has come. A very old and thin that she could not walk.

Later on I heard that she witnessed the first world war, she was a grandmother of my mom. According to the tradition, I’m the one who circumcises first. so I noticed that someone has grabbed my hand while I was celebrating with my friends telling me that is my turn then, I went slowly toward the grand ma and sat on small hole as they ordered me, there were two women or more standing in the line, one of them has put dates in my mouth to not to bite my tongue. Suddenly I felt like something taken out of my stomach or my heart I don’t know all I felt is a severe pain with continuous bleeding.

Although I didn’t see the sharp blade but I felt the pain. My screaming filled the place and I was not able to talk. Instead I looked at all faces with a shocking expression.  I just wanted to ask why? but I couldn’t. Lately, I have been told that I am complete and protected from stigma. As a result, I grew up carrying with me all the fear, anger and scars. I got mad of the society, so after I got the chance to get education. I become strong, fearless and dedicated myself to fight against FGM and other harmful tradition and kind of violence practiced against women and young girls.

I have led raising awareness campaigns to educate women and young girls about the impact of FGM on their physiological and physical health. Meanwhile, have done many initiatives on women empowerment through education. I didn’t give up, instated, I looked at the bright side of my experience and turned it into a success story. I smile every day because despite what I have gone through, I’m a change agent who can make a deference on girls’ life by being a role model.”   -Suja Rai


तपाईंको प्रतिकृयाहरू

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


ताजा अपडेट