The ‘STOP Female Genital Mutilation!’ class is designed to learn about the concept and reality of Female Genital Mutilation(FGM) and to introduce diverse efforts to eradicate FGM. It also aims to help students recognize the problems of FGM and act to eradicate them.
The ‘Learn & Act’ education of the Sunhak Peace Prize is an educational program that educates young people in middle school and older on diverse approaches to global peace issues. Learn & Act can be a learning space where all global citizens can learn and act on global peace issues. The Sunhak Peace Prize provides related education packages.
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| Sunhak Peace Prize Teacher’s Guide Stop! FGM |
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| Sunhak Peace Prize Student Worksheets Stop! FGM |
The details of each education are based on statistical data from international organizations including the United Nations. Teachers can teach their students in the form of presentations after referring to the lesson guide we provide. Students can express their own diverse opinions while organizing class content by using the student activity sheet provided while participating in class.
Now, let’s learn more about FGM in detail!
It is impossible to describe that feeling in words.
It is similar to the feeling of someone cutting off the flesh of your thigh or arm.
Desert Flower, Waris Dirie
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| Desert flower a film by Sherry Hormann |
Source: somensome
Waris Dirie’s book ‘Desert Flower’ describes realistically the process of FGM. It has also been released in Korea. As the story unfolds from the perspective of a girl undergoing circumcision, the negative aspects of circumcision are emphasized. This story is told at the beginning of the class to raise awareness of circumcision.
Students can consider from a victim’s perspective and think about what they had known about FGM.
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| Prevalence of FGM what do the countries in the map have in common? What do the numbers on the map mean? Which country has the highest percentage? Have you ever heard of this country? |
According to data from the UN, more than 200 million women around the world have experienced FGM. This is happening at a rate of 1 in 9 seconds, or about 10,000 women suffering it every day.
It is mainly performed in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. In Somalia, located in eastern Africa, 98% of women have experienced circumcision.
What is FGM?
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| What is Female Genital Mutilation? Female genital mutilation(FGM) Various unhygienic procedures that involve severe pain and bleeding “The practice (of FGM) also violates a person’s rights to health, security and physical integrity, the right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and the right to life when the procedure results in death”- World Health Organization (WHO) |
A female Genital Mutilation is an act that involves the removal or damage of a part of the female genitalia due to religious or cultural practice.
This is an act of damaging the female genitalia, which is very unsanitary and is a procedure accompanied by severe pain and bleeding. In some cases, only the epidermis of the clitoris is removed. However, in general, the epidermis, clitoris, labia minora, and labia majora are all removed, leaving only a narrow gap in the genital area before sutures are performed.
Why is female genital mutilation performed?
Circumcision is also used as a rite of passage to become an adult. They believe that the clitoris of the female genitalia is a trace of a man and that by removing it, the females will be reborn as a converted woman. It is also used as a device for premarital chastity and as a means to enhance polygamy.
This is evidently a male-centered act that does not consider women’s human rights.
How will a woman’s life change after circumcision?
Female genital mutilation is accompanied by excruciating pain and bleeding. Furthermore, problems such as death due to excessive bleeding, inflammation, chronic anemia, sepsis due to lack of disinfection, and bacterial infection occur. After the procedure, there is a risk of systemic infection as urination is delayed for more than 30 minutes or blood is not drained outside during menstruation. There is also considerable discomfort and pain during sexual activity and childbirth.
Waris Dirie, the hero who fought for female genital mutilation
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| Efforts to eliminate FGM: Human rights organizations – the violence of FGM became known worldwide in the 1990s – Global campaign for the elimination of FGM |
Waris Dirie is a Somali supermodel and former UN special human rights ambassador for the abolition of female circumcision. From 1997 to 2003, she served as the UN special ambassador for the abolition of female circumcision. She has helped inform the world about the violence against female genital mutilation and has been instrumental in enacting international laws to end the evil practice. In fact, the number of female circumcision victims in Somalia has decreased after her work. In particular, the importance of women’s education is now being emphasized!
Hence, what can we do about female genital mutilation?
Through the above education materials, you can study in-depth how serious female genital mutilation is in the world and how it violates women’s human rights. The learning is structured so that students can actively think about how to change the perception of female circumcision and how to act accordingly.
The STOP prepared thus far by ‘Learn & Act’! We introduced education materials on the topic of female genital mutilation and the current status of the global era. We hope that it will be of great help to those who wish to educate themselves about female genital mutilation.
These materials have been translated and provided in 7 languages including English, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, French, and Japanese as well as Korean. Further to the topic of global citizenship, we are providing educational materials on diverse international issues, thus please continue to pay attention!
