WHO: Female circumcision is happening in 29 countries

Female genital mutilation or circumcision is apparently being practiced in 29 countries in Africa and Middle East, a World Health Organization reports say. According to UNICEF, female circumcision is prevalent in Egypt where in 90 percent of Egyptian women have their genitals injured during circumcision. According to report, female circumcision is a way to curb sexuality and to promote chastity and cleanliness.

The operation is normally administer by local midwives and it can be done at any age. Among the tools used are scalpel, scissor and blade. Female genital mutilation causes excessive bleeding, intense pain and feeling of being butchered. For worst scenarios, infections, infertility, having urination problems, childbirth complications and death are the side effects.

Samya Shehata, 35, an Egyptian woman who survived a female genital mutilation process described her experience as follows: “I ran out of my house onto the streets screaming when I saw the midwife. My mom eventually caught me, helped the midwife hold me down and did the operation.”

Another survive said, “I will never forget when my mother said, ‘Let’s go,’ and I knew what she was talking about. I fainted from the pain and bled a lot. When I woke up after the operation I felt like I was butchered.”

In 2008, the Egyptian government criminalized the practice and declared the process as dangerous.

According to a 2003 survey conducted by the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population, 94% of married women had been exposed to genital cutting. Apparently, 69% of those women agreed to the procedure being carried out on their daughters.

When asked why they want to continue the practice of female genital mutilation, 33.4% said the practice is an important religious tradition while other responses say it ensures cleanliness and promotes chastity.