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FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION

More than 125 million girls and women alive today have been subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM) across countries in Africa and the Middle East where this specific form of violence against women is concentrated.

In many cultures, FGM is a recognised and accepted practice that is considered important for the socialisation of women, curbing their sexual appetites and preparing them for marriage. This practice is considered part of a ritual initiation into womanhood that includes a period of seclusion and education about the rights and duties of a wife. Despite its cultural importance, FGM has drawn considerable criticism because of the potential for both short- and long-term medical complications, as well as harm to reproductive health and infringement on women’s rights (Toubia, 1995).

In Nigeria, more than 7 in 10 women and men age 30-49 have heard of the practice. Of those who of heard of the practice, 68 percent of women and 57 percent of men who have heard of female circumcision believe that the practice is not required. Changing people’s altitude on the practice of FGM is key to reducing its prevalence, and totally eradicating the practice.

Prevalence tends to be lower among younger women, indicating a decline in this harmful practice. However, it remains commonplace in a number of these countries, with overall prevalence rates of over 80 per cent.

States were ranked by interventions in changing people’s altitude and reducing its prevalence. The state with the best interventions in 2018 is ranked 1, and the worst ranked 37.
2020 MIND THE GAP REPORT RANKINGS FOR FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION



RANK
STATE
FEMALE POPULATION*
PROPORTION OF TOTAL PROPORTION*
#1


2,016,822
55.5%
#2


2,526,449
47%
#3


2,644,133
57.2%
#4


1,491,952
56.9%
#5


3,050,638
51%
#6


1,284,487
47%
#7


2,044,612
49.6%
#8


2,877,924
50.6%
#9


1,264,017
52.9%
#9


3,686,148
52.5%
#11


4,029,147
51.6%
#12


1,864,761
54.7%
#13


2,823,517
49%
#14


2,562,975
45.4%
#15


2,067,622
47.5%
#16


1,400,709
57.4%
#16


1,974,332
55.9%
#18


2,108,188
55.7%
#19


4,521,897
45.9%
#20


6,492,104
51.1%
#20


2,258,444
58.1%
#20


3,263,362
53%
#23


2,973,862
49.2%
#24


2,012,653
58.7%
#25


6,212,434
55.3%
#26


2,807,748
53.3%
#27


2,921,563
42.3%
#28


1,555,822
48.9%
#29


2,872,722
51.3%
#30


2,385,531
51.9%
#30


1,968,398
56.4%
#32


1,448,461
59.2%
#33


1,720,950
49.3%
#33


2,752,772
55.8%
#35


3,071,957
46.5%
#35


1,871,745
46.4%
#37


3,902,903
55.8%


* - 2018 Estimates



Source:
National Bureau of Statistics
Kingmakers.com.ng Calculations



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