The voice of The oppressed people
of The Sudan from Numle to Wadi Halfa and from Jananah to Kassla
SUDAN: It
takes more than a law to stop the cut
1/6/2009
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A law passed in
November 2008 prohibiting female genital mutilation/cutting in the state
of Southern Kordofan is unique in Sudan. But for it to translate into genuine
abolition, deep-seated attitudes and misinformation will have to be overcome.
More than two-thirds of women in the state have undergone according to a 2006
household survey conducted by the Ministry of Health."All my daughters have been
circumcised," Asia Abdalla Jibril, a tea-seller, told in Kadugli, the state
capital.
"The clitoris is dirty. If you undergo you become clean," Jibril said. In
Sudan, the Arabic word “tahur”, which means purity, is often used for FGM. If a
baby is sick, FGM helps,” added Jibril. “For example if a baby has duda [fever]
and weight loss, the cut helps the child to grow better and gain weight." Most
girls undergo FGM at about six years old in the state. This attitude is not
unusual. “Women affected by genital mutilation do not uniformly regard it as
mutilation, and may react negatively to being referred to as ‘damaged’,”
according to a report in Sudan and Somalia compiled by Norway’s Country of
Origin Information Centre in December 2008.
This is despite
the fact, the report stated, that “the procedure is mainly carried out by
so-called excusers or circumcisers with no medical qualifications. Girls who do
not experience chronic pain, serious bleeding or blood poisoning after the
procedure often suffer complications during pregnancy, experience great pain
during sexual intercourse, and suffer other gynecological problems and traumas
later in life.”
Common FGM/C types in the state – and elsewhere in Sudan - are the Pharaonic and
Sunna forms. The former, also known as infibulations, involves the total removal
of all external sex organs before the vagina is sewn up, leaving a small opening
for the passing of menstrual blood, while the Sunna type is less extensive.
Childbirth in Sudan is frequently followed by reinfibulation, even though the
original procedure caused problems during delivery. One of the main reasons
cited for this “re-tightening” is to increase a husband’s pleasure.
hough she knew FGM/C was now banned, Jibril said she believed
some form of FGM/C was still necessary. "The Pharaonic one was bad but the Sunna
type is better," she said. "It should continue."
Advocacy
"It is mainly the 'grandmothers' who still want FGM," said Wahid Eldeen Abed
Elrahim, director of the National Council for Child Welfare, an NGO working to
monitor and encourage implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the
Child.
More educated men are being convinced that they should protect their children,
Elrahim said, adding that it had taken 18 months of advocacy and
awareness-creation before the mainly male-dominated legislative council in the
state passed the FGM/C Law.
Under the new legislation, the penalty for an FGM/C offence will be 10 years’
imprisonment and compensation to the family if it caused the death of the
victim. The attempt, assisting in the procedure and abetment will be penalised
with two-year jail terms. Those propagating FGM/C and operating places where it
is committed will also be punished and repeat offenders imprisoned for life.
In addition, information about protection against FGM/C will be issued at the
birth of every girl and incorporated into school curricula.
A national strategy was launched in Sudan in 2008, with the aim of total
abolition and zero tolerance within 10 years.
Elrahim said there was a long way to go. "Families are worried that their girls
will not get married if they are not circumcised," he said.
"I think it is time for the children to be allowed to decide whether or not to
undergo FGM/C. But even then most will still opt for FGM/C just before
marriage," said Zainab Kordofor, a Kadugli resident.
The focus now is on creating awareness, especially among influential communities
such as those in Al Fula, in the east, where the practice is particularly
prevalent, to mobilise support for the collective abandonment of FGM/C. "We are
focusing on ensuring that the high-profile areas are aware of the FGM/C act and
of the punishment for engaging in the practice," said Huda Gamar Hussien, a
social worker.
The passing of the law will, however, not change behaviour overnight," said
Hussien. "Right now we are seeing movement from the Pharaonic type to Sunna,
then maybe later to no FGM at all
