Vasvi Dwivedi, Pooja Nayak & Mohammad Anas Dhorajiwala, SVKM’S Pravin Gandhi College of Law, Mumbai
ABSTRACT
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a harmful practice that involves the removal or injury of external female genitalia. It has no basis in the Quran and has lasting physical and emotional consequences for young girls who undergo it. FGM is practiced in Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, and remains legal in India due to the sensitivity of the community towards its traditions. Efforts are being made to raise awareness about this practice in India and eliminate it through gradual steps. By taking action to abolish FGM, we can protect the health and well-being of young girls and promote gender equality. FGM has no documented health advantages and has short- term consequences such as swelling, bleeding, discomfort, and wound infection. Long-term consequences include infection-prone epidermoid cysts, scars and keloids, and neuroma involving the nerves that supplied the clitoris. Women with infibulation may experience protracted, drop-by-drop urination, painful periods, and blood stagnation in the uterus and vagina. FGM is prohibited by law in 51 countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, but remains prevalent in 92 countries worldwide, with around 200 million women alive today having undergone the practice. This paper aims to provide a deeper insight into the types, impacts, laws and perspectives surrounding the issue of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
