admin | February 14, 2025
In 2016, UNICEF estimated that at least 200 million girls and women had experienced female genital mutilation in 30 countries: 27 African countries, plus Yemen, Iraq, and Indonesia. Half of the women and girls in the world who have been subjected to female genital mutilation live in only three countries: Indonesia, Ethiopia, and Egypt, with populations of 256 million, 98 million and 89 million respectively, and where the estimated prevalence rates are 51%, 74%, and 92% respectively. In Africa, only the countries that forming a broad central band from west to east, including Egypt, are affected by FGM, but with significant differences in prevalence.
In Senegal, the region of Kolda is one of the localities most affected by the practice. It is a tradition that leaves its victims scarred with a lot of consequences: pain, hemorrhage, infection, and trauma. The after effects are persistent and can lead to frigidity, complications in childbirth, and sometimes, death.
In this radio script, a midwife, a victim, and a former practitioner discuss the different types of female genital mutilation and the consequences, as well as the reasons for the practice, and the efforts to eradicate it.
To produce a similar program on female genital mutilation, you may wish to draw inspiration from this text. If you choose to present it as part of your health program, you can use voices to represent the different contributors. In this case, please tell your audience at the very beginning of the program that the voices are those of actors and not of the actual participants.
If you are creating your own programs on female genital mutilation, talk to people who have been subjected to the practice in your area, talk to their families, talk to those who perform it, and talk to medical experts. You may wish to ask them the following questions:
- How do people in your area perceive female genital mutilation?
- What are the different procedures?
- What are the consequences of FGM?
- Is there any legislation that prohibits the practice? If so, is it effective?
- Why does such a dangerous practice still persist?