Cannock Soroptimist Carolyn Dyer was the speaker at the Club’s meeting at the beginning of February.
Carolyn is well known to the people of Cannock having been a Community mid-wife for many years. She had as her subject matter an issue that has been of great concern to Soroptimists worldwide for some considerable time: Female Genital Mutilation – FGM. Although a topic which many may not like to hear about, it is of real concern that the practice is widespread and so it is important to raise awareness about it.
There are many myths surrounding FGM, the most popular being that it is based in religious practice – this, however, is completely untrue; there is no mention of the practice in the Bible, the Koran or any other Holy Book.
The practice, sometimes known as cutting, is barbaric – glass is often used to cut the woman, otherwise it may well be a dirty knife: infection is highly likely. Some women are then stitched, thus causing many other health problems.
FGM is practiced amongst many communities originating from Asia and Africa, it is a tribal matter and often connected with a man’s ownership of a woman or the financial value that can be placed on a woman by her family; another reason for it is the belief by a society that without FGM a woman is unclean. In recent years the practice of FGM has spread to many parts of the world as people flee from war torn countries and re establish communities within the host country. It is now practiced in Europe, Canada, USA, Australia and the UK. In appears that between 100 and 140 million women throughout the world had FGM performed on them. 86,000 women in the UK are known to have been subjected to FGM and it is estimated that each year 8,000 girls in England and Wales are hidden away and cut.
Although it is against the law in this country for a woman to be cut or stitched, no cases have as yet been brought to Court. Other countries – France being one – do bring cases to Court, thus sending out the message that the practice is unacceptable. Soroptimists, as well as health organisations and many national newspapers continue to raise awareness and work in whatever way they can to stop the practice of FGM.
Photos attached: Ronnie Reynolds, President of SI Cannock & District and Soroptimist Carolyn Dyer
