Abstract

In 2015, the international community agreed to end Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) by 2030. However, the target is unlikely to be met as changes in practice, including medicalized female genital mutilation/cutting (mFGM/C), challenge abandonment strategies. This paper critically reviews the current World Health Organization (WHO) definition of mFGM/C to demonstrate that mFGM/C, as currently defined, lacks detail and clarity, and may serve as an obstacle to the collection of credible, reliable, and comparable data relevant to targeted FGM/C prevention policies and programs. The paper argues that it is necessary to initiate a discussion on the revision of the current WHO definition of mFGM/C, where different components (who-how-where-what) should be taken into account. This is argued by discussing different scenarios that compare the current WHO definition of mFGM/C with the actual practice of FGM/C on the ground. The cases discussed within these scenarios are based on existing published research and the research experience of the authors. The scenarios focus on countries where mFGM/C is prevalent among girls under 18 years, using data from Demographic Health Surveys and/or Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys, and thus the focus is on the Global South. The paper places its arguments in relation to wider debates concerning female genital cosmetic surgery, male genital circumcision and consent. It calls for more research on these topics to ensure that definitions of FGM/C and mFGM/C reflect the real-world contexts and ensure that the human rights of girls and women are protected.

中文翻译：

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重新思考医学女性生殖器切割的定义

摘要

2015年，国际社会同意到2030年终止女性生殖器切割（FGM/C）。然而，由于实践的变化，包括医学化女性生殖器切割（mFGM/C）、挑战等，这一目标不太可能实现。放弃策略。本文批判性地回顾了世界卫生组织 (WHO) 目前对 mFGM/C 的定义，以证明目前定义的 mFGM/C 缺乏细节和清晰度，可能会成为收集可信、可靠和可比数据的障碍与有针对性的 FGM/C 预防政策和计划相关。该论文认为，有必要就修订目前世界卫生组织对 mFGM/C 的定义进行讨论，其中应考虑不同的组成部分（谁-如何-在哪里-什么）。这是通过讨论不同的情景来论证的，这些情景将世界卫生组织目前对 mFGM/C 的定义与 FGM/C 的实际做法进行比较。这些场景中讨论的案例基于现有已发表的研究和作者的研究经验。这些情景使用人口健康调查和/或多指标类集调查的数据，重点关注 18 岁以下女孩中 mFGM/C 盛行的国家，因此重点是全球南方。该论文将其论点与有关女性生殖器整容手术、男性生殖器包皮环切术和同意的更广泛的争论联系起来。它呼吁对这些主题进行更多研究，以确保 FGM/C 和 mFGM/C 的定义反映现实世界的背景，并确保女孩和妇女的人权受到保护。