It will save millions of girls from genital mutilation – ElSol.com.ar – Diario de Mendoza, Argentina

While female bad mutilation is still practiced at the current pace in the countries where it is prevalent, 68 million girls could become new victims by 2030, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

On the occasion of the International Day of Zero Tolerance against Female Genital Mutilation, the organization that dictates health guidelines around the world considers that, given the population growth in places where this practice is widespread It is urgent that the international community accelerate action to end it.

The UN has set February 6 as the day to reiterate the need not to hesitate to put an end to the practices of female bad mutilation suffered by more than 200 million girls and women, said the spokesman of Geneva. WHO, Tarik Jasarevic.

Today is the international day against #MutilationGenitalFeminine. According to the WHO, every year, 2 million girls and teenagers suffer from ablation, mostly in African countries. A ritual that attacks the bad life of women. # AM1080 pic.twitter.com/rWQNdGqoiz

– Monumental AM 1080 (@ AM_1080) February 6, 2019

Most live in thirty countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, where practices such as ablation (one of the versions of bad mutilation) are considered a cultural or religious custom.

The region with the most cases is West Africa, where it is estimated that more than 85% of women between the ages of 15 and 45 have sufferedHowever, in Europe itself, it is estimated that there are 500 000 victims in migrant communities and about 180 000 girls are at risk of being victimized each year.

In 2019, WHO wants to put a special focus on countering the growing belief that replacing traditional practices of mutilation with similar practices by health workers is less detrimental. badimilating it somehow and wrongly with male circumcision.

The health workers "must never subject girls or women to bad mutilation", and those who do "violate their human rights," warned the spokesman for the WHO.

This partial or total mutilation of the external tissue of the female bad organs, practiced in certain populations eliminate badual pleasure the woman "has no medical justification, only causes pain and should never be practiced," he added.

On the occasion of this commemoration, UN Women, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund also reaffirmed their willingness to eliminate a practice that " violates women's right to badual and reproductive health ". reproductive. "

"End female bad mutilation We must fight the root causes of gender inequality and work for the social and economic empowerment of women", said the three UN agencies in a joint statement issued today.

The statement urges governments in countries where this practice is maintained to develop national plans for its eradication, which include: budget allocations for badual and reproductive health, education, social badistance and legal services.

They also demand that "religious leaders demolish the myth that female bad mutilation is based on religion".

"Thanks to the collective action of governments, civil society, communities and individuals, female bad mutilation is declining, but we are not content to reduce the number of cases, we insist on eradicating it", conclude the organizations in their document.

Victims of these practices are generally girls under the age of 15 who, after undergoing this type of procedure, may suffer from hemorrhages, infections and future complications during childbirth, including increased risk of newborn death.