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GENITAL MUTILATION PRACTICE CONTINUES IN AFRICA by Lauren Tejeda In Africa, the practice of female genital mutilation has become widespread. It is common for girls to undergo a forced genital mutilation operation by members of her tribe. The operation, also known as FGM, is forced on approximately 6,000 girls per day worldwide-about one every 15 seconds. It affects about 130 million women in 28 African countries today. The number of mutilated women and girls in African and the Middle East is increasing steadily due to population growth, according to the latest estimates published by WIN NEWS. The mutilation most often performed is an excision, which involves cutting off, without anesthetic, the clitoris and most of the external genitalia. James J. Hughes, Ph.D. healthcare ethicist, believes that the emotional impact of this operation is serious. "The medical and neurological consequences of female genital mutilation are often profound ,"said Hughes. Female genital mutilation is widely practiced in countries where the predominant religion is Christianity, like Ethiopia and Kenya. Marilyn F. Milos, R.N., Executive Director of the national Organizations of Circumcision Information Resource Centers, said that the circumcision began in Africa. "Most researchers do believe that all genital mutilations originated in Africa," said Milos. The Religious Tolerance Organization estimates that 90 percent or more of the girls in Ethiopia, Sudan, and Somalia have been mutilated. In these countries, FGM is required for a proper marriage, the virtue of the woman, and for the honor of her family. However, according to Milos, female genital mutilation is done primarily for control. "Wherever human genital mutilation occurs, it is for the purpose of control," said Milos. "Females are victimized by torture and mutilation, they are disempowered, they will grow up to be victims or victimizers." In 1996, Fauziya Kasinga, a 19-year old African woman sought asylum in the United States in order to avoid forced genital mutilation by members of her tribe. The United Nations has since supported the right of member states to grant refugee status to women who fear being mutilated if they are returned to their county of origin. According to Milos, this is a turn in the right direction. "The U.S. has been reluctant to grant asylum, but there have been several successful cases, so perhaps the walls are falling down," she said. UNICEF suggest that a short note to make sure that contributions will not be used in any facility that practices genial mutilation accompany donations to Africa. James J. Hughes, who produces a weekly bioethics-oriented radio show, Changesurfer Radio, said he would rather a strict enforcement of world law. "I would propose that everyone - African governments, the UN, aid agencies, feminist groups, and indigenous organizations - pursue a two-tract strategy of strict enforcement of anti-FGM laws, and a cultural campaign," said Hughes. FGM is now outlawed in some countries where it had been widely practices, such as Kenya and Senegal.