women issues communication services agency(WICSA)

What is FGM?

Female Genital Mutilation or female Circumcision is a universallyaccepted term that describes the excision of all or portion of theFemale genitals using a blade, a knife or any sharp object.

Types of FGM
There are basically four types of FGM:

Type I:
Type I is the excision (removal) of the clitoral hood with or without removal of all or part of the clitoris.

Type II:
Type II is the excision (removal) of the clitoris together with part or all of the labia minora (the inner vaginal lips).

Type III:
Type III is the excision (removal) of part or all of the external genitalia(clitoris, labia minora and labia majora) and stitching or narrowing ofthe vaginal opening, leaving a very small opening, about the size of amatchstick, to allow for the flow of urine and menstrual blood. The girlor woman’s legs are generally bound together from the hip to the ankle so she remains immobile for approximately 40 days to allow for the formation of scar tissue.

Type IV:
Type IV includes the introduction of corrosive substances into the vagina. This form is practiced to a much lesser extent than the other forms in Nigeria.

Instrument of the act (Water Color) by
Japhet Angela (Mrs.)

Status of FGM in Nigeria

 There is a dearth of researches on FGM  because of the sensitive nature of this practice. Nigeria has 36 states and a study by the Nigerian Center for Gender, Health and Human Rights (NCGHHR) shows the prevalence of FGM with research data that was collected over 2001 and 2002.

It shows the following state-by-state results:   

Abia (70 per cent), Adamawa (72 per cent),  Akwa Ibom (65 per cent),  Anambra (60 per cent),  Bauchi (55 per cent),  Benue (95 per cent),  Borno (87 per cent), Cross River (60 per cent), Delta (90 per cent), Edo (40 per cent), Enugu (45 per cent), Imo (40-50 per cent, Type II), Jigawa (60-70 per cent, Type IV), Kaduna (50-70 per cent, Type IV), Kebbi (100 per cent), Kogi (25 per cent),  Katsina (95 per cent), Kano (80 per cent), Kwara (60 per cent) Lagos (30 per cent), Niger (40 per cent), Ogun (35 per cent), Ondo (98 per cent), Osun (80-90 per cent), Oyo (68 per cent), Plateau (58 percent), Rivers (70 per cent), Sokoto (32 per cent),Taraba (5 per cent) ,Yobe (20 per cent), Abuja (7 per cent)

Legal  Status:

There is no federal law banning FGM/FGC in Nigeria. Opponents of this practice rely on Section 34(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that states, "no person shall be subjected to torture or inhuman or degrading treatment," as the basis for banning the practice nationwide.

What can we do?

What I learnt from the exhibition is that the critical path to freeing women, especially from developing nations, is through financial independence attained by job training and self-sufficiency programs.
This is on the premise that when a woman can afford to pay her bills, she can afford to dictate what she wants done to her body and mind. The saying that “ Ye who pays the Piper dictates the tune” holds true for the Nigerian society where the man is mostly the breadwinner.

Our second level of the FGM campaign (the first level being the Art exhibition as a way of creating awareness and a platform for advocating laws ) is
calling for International Action to equip Nigerian women and girls towards economic self- sufficiency. We would like to partner with organizations and individuals that can provide ideas, schemes and grants towards attaining self- sufficiency through the establishment of micro credit scheme. The micro credit scheme is being developed to take off soon. Please check back periodically for progress on the micro credit programs.

 It is important to approach controversial issues such as FGM, which is rooted in tradition and religion, with tact to avoid damaging confrontations from custodians of tradition and religion.

 Future Project – micro credit

 WICSA’s ultimate goal is to combat poverty on a global level working with clients one at a time. Poverty is multi dimensional in nature especially across geographical regions. For the African market and other developing world, poverty is described by the United Nations (2008, Millennium Development Goals) as those living under $1.00 or less a day. Whatever the parameter for defining poverty, WICSA is poised to work with any woman who desires to improve her existing small business or own one.

 WICSA looks at poverty from the lack of economic resources standpoint; therefore our efforts would be geared towards economic empowerment by offering training classes as well as micro loans to low incomes women, existing female small business owners and prospective ones.

The Unfulfilled by Helen Idehen

About the painting…..This is a painting submitted by Helen, depicting her sister’s suicide attempt due to the trauma

Why do we practice Female Genital Mutilation or circumcision?

 The reasons for the practice are almost as myriad as there are people on the face of the earth.
However the commonly adduced reasons are:

1. The clitoris is unhealthy and should be cut off

2. The clitoris if allowed to grow would be in competition with the man’s penis

3. The gods told us from the beginning of time that women should have their genitals removed leaving only the vaginal opening to curb sexual arousal and consequently promiscuity.

4. When a child’s head touches the clitoris during childbirth, that child would die.

5. An uncircumcised women is an unclean woman and therefore a taboo.

SEE THE EXHIBITION CATALOG AT

http://polaris.umuc.edu/~acavanau/july2007/presenters/Levin_NigerianArtists.pdf

he The Ugly hand that Maims( oil on canvas) by Wande George