Every year, on 6 February, the world unites to mark the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C), a practice that affects millions of girls and women globally, causing both physical and psychological harm, and violating their basic human rights.
In many cultures around the world, FGM/C is often intertwined with early marriage, making it even more of a challenge to break the cycle of pain and suffering.
In Somalia, FGM/C is a deeply rooted cultural tradition, seen as a rite of passage into womanhood. The procedure, which involves partial or complete removal of the female external genitalia for non-medical reasons, is usually performed on young girls before puberty, making it a pre-condition for early marriage. This was the case for Halima, a 29-year-old woman from Somalia, who was only 13 years old when she was forced to marry an older man against hers and her mother’s wishes.
Halima vividly recalls the day of her forced marriage:
“I was just a child when my uncles arranged for me to marry an older man. I didn’t want to, but I felt like I had no choice. My mother was crying and begging them to stop, but they didn’t listen. They had already received the money from the groom and refused to give it back. So, I was transported to another town, away from everyone I knew, to live with a man I only met that day.”
Catastrophic consequences
Halima’s story is a devastating reality faced by many girls in Somalia who are subjected to both FGM/C and early forced marriage. As the two practices are closely linked, FGM/C serves as a way to prepare girls for marriage and to control their sexuality. The consequences of these customs, however, are catastrophic.
Halima’s physical trauma from FGM/C and early marriage was further compounded by the abuse and violence she suffered during her marriage.
“I was just a child when I got married, and I knew nothing about love or marriage,” she explains. “He was abusive physically and emotionally, and I felt trapped. I had no control over my own life. My early marriage and FGM/C were two of the biggest injustices I have faced in my life.”
Halima’s story highlights the ongoing need for action against FGM/C and early marriage. These harmful cultural practices not only affect individual girls and women but also their families and communities. To tackle this issue, more resources and support must be allocated towards protecting the rights of girls and women.
Empowering women through education and resources
Islamic Relief is committed to eradicating FGM/C and early marriage in Somalia and other countries by empowering women and girls through education and resources, raising awareness about the dangers of these practices, and working together towards a world where every girl can live freely without fear of FGM/C and early marriage.
You can join our efforts to put an end to FGM/C and early marriage. Support Islamic Relief’s work in Somalia and around the world to bring an end to these harmful practices and ensure that girls like Halima can live a life free from violence and oppression.