Female genital mutilation still happening in Canada, new research finds
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A recent report suggests female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is still happening in Canada.
The research, conducted by Islamic Relief Canada through interviews and an online national survey of health-care practitioners, also found girls are taken overseas to have the procedure done — a practice known as vacation cutting.
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The report, which received funding from the federal Department of Women, Gender and Equality, cautions that while data on the practice is scarce in Canada, survivors have shared their experiences.
In one case, a survivor revealed her grandmother flew to Canada specifically to perform FGM/C on her.
“This report is a vital step in understanding the extent of FGM/C in Canada and addressing the gaps in support for survivors,” Reyhana Patel, director of communications and government relations at Islamic Relief Canada, said in a news release in late March.
“One of the key themes of this study is that to truly end this practice, it must be community-led.”
FGM/C is when the labia or clitoris of a girl or woman is excised, mutilated or infibulated — the removal of the vulva and its suturing — in whole or in part, for non-medical reasons.
The Criminal Code was amended in 1997 to clarify that FGM/C is a form of aggravated assault, and that removing a child from Canada to have it performed is a criminal offence.
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Patel said the legality of the practice will not deter its occurrence in the country.
“A comprehensive, community-led approach — supported by governments, policymakers, and service providers — is essential to effectively address and prevent FGM/C in Canada,” Patel said.
Other key findings in the report include the health-care system’s inability to properly address the needs of survivors, the need for a more integrated, culturally sensitive approach to health care, and the role of community leaders, including religious leaders and elders, in combating FGM/C.
“By involving communities in educational efforts and advocacy, a sustainable approach to ending the practice and supporting those impacted can be established,” Islamic Relief Canada said.
According to the World Health Organization, more than 230 million girls and women who are alive today have undergone FGM/C in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
The practice is mostly carried out on young girls between infancy and age 15. In addition, four million girls are at risk of some form of the procedure annually.
Immediate complications can include severe pain, excessive bleeding, genital tissue swelling, infections, urinary problems, issues with the wound healing, injury to surrounding genital tissue, shock, and potentially death.
Long-term risks can include urinary, vaginal and menstrual problems, scar tissue, issues having sex, increased risk of childbirth complications, the need for later surgeries, and psychological problems including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and low self-esteem.
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