Do Maasai still practice FGM?

Among the Maasai communities in Kaijado, female genital mutilation (FGM) is widely practiced. Before girls get married, tradition dictates they must undergo FGM. “Our society is patriarchal in nature.

What is FGM in Maasai?

The Maasai practice type-1 FGM, also known as a clitoridectomy, which involves the removal of the clitoral hood and all or part of the clitoris.

Who banned female circumcision?

With the passage of the federal law ban, the Female Genital Mutilation Act, in 1996, performing FGM on anyone under age 18 became a felony in the United States. However, in 2018, the act was stuck down as unconstitutional by US federal district judge Bernard A.

Who stopped FGM?

UNICEF and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) jointly lead the largest global programme to end FGM. The programme supports zero tolerance laws and policies, while working with health workers to both eliminate female genital mutilation and provide care to women and girls who have undergone the procedure.

What is FGM?

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a procedure where the female genitals are deliberately cut, injured or changed, but there’s no medical reason for this to be done. It’s also known as female circumcision or cutting, and by other terms, such as sunna, gudniin, halalays, tahur, megrez and khitan, among others.

What countries have banned circumcision?

Iceland. In February 2018, the Progressive Party proposed a bill that would change the words “girl child” to “child” and “her sexual organs” to “[their] sexual organs”, thereby making Iceland the first European country to ban male circumcision for non-medical reasons.

Is male circumcision mutilation?

In many cases this is done without good medical justification, for example to force the infant to conform to the expectations of a particular religion. Just as we call sex without consent ‘rape’, circumcision without consent or reasonable justification should be called ‘mutilation’.

What is the difference between Masai and Maasai?

Maasai (not Masai) is the correct spelling of this noble tribe: it means people speaking maa. Masai was the incorrect spelling of the British settlers and has remained in current use. The Maasai have always been special.

What happened to Maasai?

Along the way he was killed by a posse, west of the town of San Marcial, New Mexico, between Socorro and Hot Springs, though no evidence of Massai’s death was ever produced. Some believed the Apache Kid was actually the man who died that day so the area was later named the Apache Kid Wilderness.

Is FGM legal?

The UNFPA estimates that at least 59 countries have passed laws against FGM, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, Spain, Norway, Sweden and New Zealand. Of the 29 countries in Africa where female genital mutilation (FGM) is traditionally practiced, 26 have laws prohibiting FGM.

Where is FGM illegal?

Significantly, of the 55 million girls (aged 0–14) who have experienced or are at risk of FGM across the 28 countries: ▪ 50% of them are in 3 countries that have anti-FGM laws (Egypt, Ethiopia and Nigeria); and ▪ 30% of them are in the 6 countries without current anti-FGM laws (Chad, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone.

Why are Maasai girls circumcised before they are married?

Because Maasai girls are traditionally considered children until they are circumcised, it is seen as imperative for a Maasai girl to undergo the circumcision rite before she is married. This strongly ingrained cultural belief propels families to go to great lengths to complete the circumcision.

How old do women have to be to be circumcised in Kenya?

Later I learned that female circumcision is not just practiced by the Maasai people. It permeates many other African groups as well. In Kenya alone, 50% of women have undergone circumcision. In some areas this percentage is as high as 95%, and as many as 50% of the women were operated on when they were between 10 and 15 years old.

How old do women have to be to be circumcised?

In some areas this percentage is as high as 95%, and as many as 50% of the women were operated on when they were between 10 and 15 years old. “Female circumcision prepares girls for responsible married life,” was one of the arguments for the practice of female circumcision.

How many Maasai girls have undergone FGM?

Soy points to a study that was carried out in 2009 and showed that 7 out of 10 Maasai girls undergo FGM. She says the few Maasai women who have abandoned the practice have been shunned in the community.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPAVmZFgwW0