Peer-reviewed article
Female Genital Mutilation: A hope for its end. An Overview
Maria Amélia Afonso Grácio, António Grácio ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This paper presents an overview of female genital mutilation (FGM), known locally in Angola as 'fanado', based on researchers' firsthand observations of FGM ceremonies in the country. The authors aim to raise awareness about the practice and contribute to efforts to end it by documenting its negative physical and psychological impacts on girls. The paper emphasizes that FGM violates the dignity and rights of girls and discusses this in the context of growing international commitment to eliminate the practice, including the WHO's International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM.
Key points
- FGM is practiced in Angola under the local name 'fanado'
- The practice involves public ceremonies with singing, dancing, and adornments, while girls experience stress and fear about future suffering
- FGM causes negative repercussions on girls' physical and psychological health
- The authors cite the WHO's International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM (6 February 2019) as evidence of growing global commitment to end the practice
- The authors argue that genuine awareness of the gravity of FGM problems is essential for implementing measures to end it
Limitations
This is primarily an overview paper based on researchers' personal observations and selected literature rather than systematic data collection or evaluation. The document does not provide quantitative evidence of health outcomes, comparative analysis across communities, or evaluation of any specific intervention to end FGM.
Abstract
During human history we found several procedures which can be considered as strong attacks on the physical and psychological integrity of human communities. Amongst these procedures are male and female genital mutilation. We have selected for this manuscript female genital mutilation (FGM) because we have personal knowledge of this practice in Africa and as there is today a growing perception on the necessity of to stop FGM, we want to share our experience of the knowledge of FGM. Effectively, some years ago, when we were working in research projects in Angola (West Africa) we were present at ceremonies (not the act) of female genital mutilation (FGM, whose popular name in Angola is “fanado”) by invitation of the community where the FGM was carried out, and we can transmit the following : (i) the images then seen remain in our memory -men, women and the young had vestments with many colors and adornments of metal, straw etc, were singing and dancing with strong energy ; (ii) the girls were stressed and fearful, thinking of their future suffering. Then, in this context, here we have as:1) general objective: to give our modest contribution to reinforce the necessity to end with the FGM practice, in that the dignity and rights of all girls are not respected; 2) particular objectives: (i) to show the negative repercussion of the FGM on girls concerning their physical and psychological health, since we are convinced that a genuine awareness of the gravity of the problems is an essential pre-condition for the implementation of any tangible measures for its end; (ii) to transmit the actual hope for the end of this procedure, considering, principally, that on 6 February 2019, WHO joins individuals, organizations, and UN partners worldwide in marking the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM [1]. To reach our objectives, we have selected information that we have considered as more relevant in the context of an edital.