Female Genital Mutilation

Female genital mutilation consists of partial or total removal of the external genitalia of women. This is a practice that is still present in a diverse array of cultures and generally is done when the victims are still children, by the wishes of the families and social groups whose origins and beliefs support such a practice (in the case of immigrant families, for example).

Mutilation can be done in a variety of manners, like cutting off only the clitoris or completely cutting off the vaginal labia and then seaming up the vaginal cavity almost completely, allowing only a minimal amount of space for urine and menstrual flow to pass.

There are multiple reasons behind the practice of genital mutilation. Among many, it can be for reasons that are social, aesthetic (the genital area or vaginal organ is considered impure before mutilation), religious, sexual (limiting the development of sexual life of women) and economic (people who practice this ritual will receive income that guarantee their livelihood).

As a rule, the practice of female genital mutilation occurs during cultural festivities, and it is not done hygienically, as most of times the blades and other instruments used are not sterilised. Because of this and of the sensitivity of this region of the female body, it is common that victims experience excessive pain, bleeding, infections with internal reproductive organs, infections with the external area of the genitalia, urinary infections, difficulties in eliminating urine, feces and menstrual flow, complications in childbirth, difficulties and pain with sexual performance, and of course, the psychological consequences (such as depression, fear of having sexual relations, fear of having children, among many others).

In Portugal, female genital mutilation is a crime, a severe offense done against aIn Portugal, female genital mutilation is a crime, a severe offense done against aperson’s bodily integrity (as stated in Article 144º of the Penal Code), which can resultin two to ten years of imprisonment.