Female genital mutilation is often carried out on minors with a blade, which can lead to many short- and long-term issues, or even death.  Photo: Shutterstock

Female genital mutilation is often carried out on minors with a blade, which can lead to many short- and long-term issues, or even death.  Photo: Shutterstock

The Fondation Follereau Luxembourg in collaboration with the commune of Strassen has launches an exhibition on female genital mutilation (FGM). The expo runs until 18 March and gives a voice and a face to victims of an unspeakable practice. 

“By the time you will have read these two sentences, at least 11 seconds will have passed. Every 11 seconds, an additional girl will have been excised,” the foundation says in its statement. To fight the practice, the organisation is collaborating with AAB-FFL and COFESFA, two organisations active locally in Mali and Burkina Faso respectively. 

FGM is a traditional practice where older female circumcisers use a blade on underage girls to remove parts of external female genitalia--such as the clitoral hood and glans, and the inner and outer labia. The practice has no health benefits, but those who perpetrate it believe it to help control and suppress a woman’s sexuality, and preserve her purity.

Between 4 February and 18 March, the exhibition in Strassen town hall will showcase the work of Luxembourg photographer Thierry Winn, who followed the foundation on its travels to Mali. The photos are accompanied by testimonies of young girls who experienced FGM, partner organisations in Mali and Burkina Faso, former traditional circumcisers, and others active in the fight against the tradition.

Prevention and communication are key

6 February is the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation. Most cases of FGM occur in Africa, the Middle East and Asia according to the WHO, but not exclusively. Of the 200 million women who currently live with FGM, , as revealed a 2016 study. In Burkina Faso and Mali, this tradition has already affected 80% of women between the ages of 15 and 49. 

In addition to being a violation of human and female rights, the operation can lead to extreme blood loss, infections, urinary troubles due to the scarification of the genitals, trauma and in some cases can prove fatal. Despite existing laws, the practice is continued in parts of the two countries, which is why the Fondation Follereau works with local initiatives to treat with local political, religious and communal groups.

“The link between female genital mutilation and its possible late consequences is often not well known by the affected population,” explains the foundation. Sharing information with victims and perpetrators of the surgery is key to stop the damage from happening in the first place, but providing emotional, physical, and social care for the victims of FGM is also important.

On 9 March, the Follereau foundation’s Mali-based partner COFESFA, which works on fighting gender-based inequality will also be present at the “centre Paul Barblé” in Strassen, to talk about the differences in a woman’s role in Luxembourg and Malian families. A film on motherhood in Mali will also be shown, followed by a discussion panel between the Follereau foundation and the COFESFA collective.