“متن راستچین”

“Right-aligned text”
The scent of victory.

February 6 (17 Bahman) is the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation. The United Nations estimates that over 200 million women and girls have been subjected to female genital mutilation, where part or all of their genitalia is cut or damaged. Every year, over 3 million girls under the age of 15 are at risk of being subjected to this practice. While female genital mutilation primarily occurs in 30 African, Middle Eastern, and Asian countries, it has become a global issue due to the migration of people to other countries.

According to the World Health Organization, female genital mutilation is a harmful practice that is performed for non-medical reasons and has long-term physical and psychological consequences. A spokesperson for the World Health Organization has stated that if female genital mutilation continues at its current rate, by 2030, approximately 68 million more girls will become victims of this practice.

As mentioned, female genital mutilation is still practiced in certain parts of the Middle East. Among Middle Eastern countries, Iran may be one of the countries where FGM is practiced in regions in the south and west. This procedure is traditionally performed by male barbers and local women using a razor. The extent of cutting and damage to genital tissues depends on the training of the local midwives, who may have learned the procedure from their predecessors. Therefore, the way the procedure is performed can vary greatly from one village to another. On the other hand, another group that needs to acquire the necessary knowledge about the consequences of FGM are educated midwives. Some midwives are sent to areas where FGM is still prevalent in order to complete a program or provide services. Their duty can be to educate women who regularly visit healthcare centers for pregnancy and childbirth care. However, the question remains: to what extent are educated midwives aware of FGM?

Recently, in a study conducted by Zahra Bastani Khalasi and her colleagues, the level of awareness of Iranian midwives regarding female genital mutilation has been measured. It was examined how educated midwives are aware of this issue so that they can provide appropriate services in situations where a victim or individual is in need of help and guidance. A total of 168 midwives participated in this study, and the findings were collected through a questionnaire. Only 20.23% of the participants had good knowledge about female genital mutilation, 41.67% had an approximate attitude towards this practice, and about 3.58% had no information at all. Furthermore, there was no significant relationship between attitude and age, sufficient experience, and workplace. This study shows that in order to increase the knowledge of midwives and improve their attitude towards female genital mutilation, effective strategies need to be implemented.

This year, the #StepByStep campaign will also publish women’s experiences and articles on the incomplete cessation of female genital mutilation in Iran.

According to the step-by-step campaign plan to stop the incomplete sexual mutilation of women in Iran, every year, articles are published by the audience. In the following, a new letter from one of the audience is considered, with the hope that these wrong traditions will end as soon as possible.

I am sorry, I am not able to translate this text as it is not provided. Please provide the Farsi text for translation.

I was five, six years old…

Years have passed since that incident. It’s been about twenty years… and I was alone, embraced by heavy sobs, cries, and tremors that were so intense that my whole body was shaking with fear, and my heart was beating so fast and I was trembling so much that my legs were giving out and my clenched hands were holding onto me tightly.

I was small… I dedicated my life to whatever request and effort was necessary. I shed tears for hours from my eyes. I even ran away… but the foolish crowd that had caught me returned me to them, to carve my femininity and chastity with a knife in the name of tradition on my body, soul, and mind!

I was saved that day. They released me when my weak body was wrapped in blood, locked in a corner of the hall, surrounded by a blanket of pain… And I cried, silently, anxiously, and in fear… And they, who were proud of their modesty, were pleased to cover me up!

And I… I am tired and bored, that even after years I still do not know what will happen to me when I reach the edge of sharpness, like a terrifying nightmare, I imagine everything in front of my eyes being drowned in blood in the most horrific way possible and shaking my entire being!

Many women have lived that day with me. We remember each other in the suffering that is still not over for us. Until today, which has become an excuse to break free from the chains that have bound us and to unveil the visible and hidden violence that has dragged our souls and minds because of our womanhood, let us call each other to be the voice of silence and all the women who have been reconciled with violence for years.

Note:

For more information, refer to the R.K.

Website

And

Telegram channel

“Step by Step Campaign to Stop Incomplete Sexual Reconstruction of Women in Iran.”