Here and now

It is strange that in modern times with all our technological advances and understanding of how nature / technology works … there are still 30% of all adult males circumcised (thereof two-thirds being Muslims). The current male circumcision rate is about 5,000 per day, or 1,8 million per year.

 For female circumcision (all types): about 200 million girls and woman have suffered some form of female genital mutilation, and about three million are considered at risk of undergoing FGM annually. Source: https://www.who.int/teams/sexual-and-reproductive-health-and-research/areas-of-work/female-genital-mutilation/prevalence-of-female-genital-mutilation

 All this means that ancient rites and traditions are still a significant ‘indicator’ of humanity (better: human conditions). So, on the one hand quantum computers and on the other: ‘knifes and stones’ (including surgical tools).

And not to forget: at least two monotheistic religions do not conceive male circumcision (and partially also female circumcision) as ‘inhumane’ and therefore forbidden, on the contrary, the are more or less obliged to do this in the name of their God.

 

Circumcision of Abraham, from the Bible of Jean de Sy, ca. 1355-1357, between circa 1355 and circa 1357. Source: https://ru.pinterest.com/pin/498281146250652156/. Public Domain

Jewish religion: male circumcision is a prerequisite for their holy covenant with God

Islam: here, the situation is a bit trickier, because it is recognized that male and female circumcision had been around long before their religion was established. For male circumcision: they follow the rules of Abraham.

Islam: for female circumcision: they (partially) kept tribal and community rites and integrated them into their religion and made them acceptable as ‘not strictly demanded’ but ‘honorable’ to do. Though there have been quite some Fatwas against female circumcision, not much has changed (see citations: Master Thesis Dörthe Engels: The Islamic Law Assessment of Female Circumcision).

Anonymous Beschneidung Christi. Kunsthistorisches Museum; circa 1490 to 1500 ; copyright holder: Belvedere, Wien; RKDimages, Art-work number 264894. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license


Christianity: male genital circumcision was strongly disfavored and the focus was on the ‘circumcision of the heart’. But it must be noted that the Orthodox Churches practiced male circumcision after the 12th century (or earlier) and that Coptic Christians in Egypt used to practice female circumcision, see: https://copticliterature.wordpress.com/2014/03/12/prevalence-of-and-support-for-female-genital-mutilation-within-the-copts-of-egypt-unicef-report-2013/

 OK, so this means that male circumcision will not go away anytime soon, probably never.

 What about FGM: I regret to say that I don’t expect to see much progress in the next 10 to 20 years. Why: because it needs to change the societal and cultural settings of many of the African countries / tribes / families. How long will it take: 50 years, 100 ?

 HMG was and still is done for (alleged) ‘health purposes’ as well as for many other reasons like: group and ethnical identity, rite of passage, prevention of masturbation, and for FGM/C: cultural value of virginity, value for marriage, social acceptance.



 And yet, we (I) should do our best to follow the recommendations of the WHO, i.e.to focus on:

·       strengthening the health sector response: developing and implementing guidelines, tools, training and policy to ensure that health care providers can provide medical care and counselling to girls and women living with FGM and communicate for prevention of the practice;

·       building evidence: generating knowledge about the causes, consequences and costs of the practice, including why health care providers carry out the practice, how to abandon the practice, and how to care for those who have experienced FGM;

·       increasing advocacy: developing publications and advocacy tools for international, regional and     local efforts to end FGM, including tools for policy makers and advocates to estimate the health     burden of FGM and the potential public health benefits and cost savings of preventing FGM. 


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