More and more women and girls are at risk of undergoing Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) because, in the last three years, the scarce health resources intended for the prevention and contrast of this practice have been diverted to the pandemic, with the result of determining a joke arrest with respect to the results obtained.
In the period 2020-2022, the number of girls who fell victim to this practice, a violation of human rights, increased by at least 1 million.
This is one of the themes of the International Conference at the Ministry of Health organized by the IRCCS San Gallicano on the occasion of the World Day against Female Genital Mutilation, which occurs on 6 February.
According to UN estimates, more than 250 million women in the world have suffered FGM and more than 4 million girls are at risk of being mutilated every year.
This practice is still active in over 30 countries in Africa and the Middle East, but the phenomenon also affects immigrant women living in Western Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand.
Instead of diminishing over time, these practices seem to become even more widespread, also due to the migratory phenomenon, with the result that today they are also present in countries where they were previously unknown as in the case of the United States, where the number of interventions has tripled over the last years.
A rough estimate of women who have undergone one of the forms of FGM in their countries of origin and who live in Italy,
indicates a figure of around 88,000 women, over 7,000 of whom are minors.
"If current trends continue - notes Professor Aldo Morrone, promoter of the event - the number of girls and women subjected to FGM would increase significantly over the next 10 years. What is needed are funding and awareness".
"The numbers are underestimated - underlines the expert - because most of these practices take place clandestinely. Unfortunately, Covid has increased the number of infibulated girls because social services, school services have been closed, the few resources have been directed towards the fight against the virus. We are far from the objectives of the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development, which include the abolition of FGM".
If current trends continue - notes Professor Aldo Morrone, promoter of the event - the number of girls and women subjected to FGM would increase significantly over the next 10 years.
What is needed are funding and awareness". "The numbers are underestimated - underlines the expert - because most of these practices take place clandestinely.
Unfortunately, Covid has increased the number of infibulated girls because social services and school services have been closed, the few resources have been directed towards combating the virus. We are far from the objectives of the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development, among the such as the abolition of FGM".
If current trends continue - notes Professor Aldo Morrone, promoter of the event - the number of girls and women subjected to FGM would increase significantly over the next 10 years.
What is needed is funding and awareness". "The numbers are underestimated - underlines the expert - because most of these practices take place clandestinely.
Unfortunately, Covid has increased the number of infibulated girls because social services and school services have been closed, the few resources have been directed towards combating the virus. We are far from the objectives of the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development, among the such as the abolition of FGM".
event - the number of girls and women subjected to FGM would increase significantly over the next 10 years.
What is needed are funding and awareness". "The numbers are underestimated - underlines the expert - because most of these practices take place clandestinely.
Unfortunately, Covid has increased the number of infibulated girls because social services and school services have been closed, the few resources have been directed towards combating the virus. We are far from the objectives of the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development, among the such as the abolition of FGM".
event - the number of girls and women subjected to FGM would increase significantly over the next 10 years.
What is needed are funding and awareness". "The numbers are underestimated - underlines the expert - because most of these practices take place clandestinely.
Unfortunately, Covid has increased the number of infibulated girls because social services and school services have been closed, the few resources have been directed towards combating the virus. We are far from the objectives of the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development, among the such as the abolition of FGM".
The numbers are underestimated - underlines the expert - because most of these practices take place clandestinely.
Unfortunately, Covid has increased the number of infibulated girls because social services and school services have been closed, the few resources have been directed towards combating the virus. We are far from the objectives of the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development, among the such as the abolition of FGM".
The numbers are underestimated - underlines the expert - because most of these practices take place clandestinely.
Unfortunately, Covid has increased the number of infibulated girls because social services and school services have been closed, the few resources have been directed towards combating the virus. We are far from the objectives of the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development, among the such as the abolition of FGM".
Schillaci to be countered with courage
Attention must be paid to female genital mutilation, "a practice that must be opposed with courage".
Health Minister Orazio Schillaci explains it, speaking at the International Conference organized by the IRCCS San Gallicano at the Ministry of Health on the occasion of the World Day against Female Genital Mutilation, which occurs today.
"In line with the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda - explains the minister - we must continue to work for the promotion of women's health, a strategic objective that measures the quality, effectiveness and equity of our Health System as well ”.
“The Ministry of Health -adds Schillaci- supports every initiative aimed at eliminating inequalities to defend the constitutional right to protect the health of every citizen.
This is why it is essential to continue investing in the training of health personnel who interact most with women at risk of genital mutilation to guarantee an appropriate standard of intervention, also in communication for the prevention of this practice.
Equally a priority is the promotion of initiatives to increase the empowerment of women who could suffer these forms of violence, thus guaranteeing their right to be free and to the full enjoyment of human rights".
