A turning point in Sudan: female genital mutilation becomes a crime
Horrible. Inhuman. Abominable. Shameful. There is an infinite selection of (derogatory) adjectives with which to define female genital mutilation (FGM). Indeed, in the plural, because - unfortunately - there are different types, one more despicable than the other. FGM is legal in 27 African countries and in parts of Asia and the Middle East. But in Sudan, where - according to a United Nations report - 9 out of 10 young women are subjected to it, things could change for the better. The new government led by Abdalla Hamdok has recently presented a bill that could mark the turning point, making female genital mutilation a crime in all respects. Anyone, in fact, guilty of this crime, from the approval of the new judicial system, would be punishable by 3 years in prison and a hefty fine.
Will it really be the end?
But will a law be enough to put an end to a custom that has its roots in the history of this country? Archaic - and invasive - practices such as infibulation are traditions that are difficult to eradicate for some peoples.These are rituals that mark the transition phase from childhood to adulthood in a woman's life and, therefore, become bearers of a symbolic value that is difficult to renounce, especially in some tribes. The risk is that the mutilations could be perpetrated in the darkness of illegality, in defiance of the laws, as happens for example in Egypt - where they have been illegal since 2008 -, continuing undeterred to harm the dignity of young women, if not, indeed, the life. In fact, the damage caused to the physical health of the victims is enormous, with devastating consequences on their psyche and the most disconcerting fact is that among the greatest supporters of this practice there are women. Indeed, if an adult were to object to protect his daughters from this obscene treatment, he could incur insults and threats against his own person.
10 years of hard work expected
The government, then, has the task of promoting an awareness campaign that helps communities to take note of the tremendous impact that mutilation has on women, thus coming to willingly accept the new law. We also recall that Sudan occupies 166th place out of 187 in a United Nations ranking on gender inequality, a result which we are certainly not proud of. The application of this decree could represent a huge step forward in the history of human rights, but especially of women in the African country. We want to be positive and trust in the words of Prime Minister Hamdok, whose goal is to permanently remove this practice by 2030.
