女性器切除サバイバー、世界で２億３０００万人以上 ユニセフ

【国連ＡＦＰ＝時事】国連児童基金（ユニセフ）が８日、国際女性デーに合わせて公表した報告書によると、女性器切除（ＦＧＭ）を受けた上で生存している少女や女性（サバイバー）の数が世界で２億３０００万人を超えた。（写真は女性器切除（ＦＧＭ）と闘うケニアの団体「マンガハート」が主催した通過儀礼の代替儀式を終え、修了証を手にする少女たち）
　ＦＧＭには小陰唇や陰核の一部または全部の切除、縫合による膣口の狭小化などが含まれる。ＦＧＭには出血や感染症のリスクがある他、不妊症、妊娠合併症、死産、性交痛といった長期的結果につながるリスクもある。
　ユニセフは、ＦＧＭが一般的に行われている３１か国を対象に調査を実施。地域別に見たＦＧＭサバイバーの数は、アフリカが１億４４００万人以上と最も多く、次いでアジアが約８０００万人、中東が約６００万人だった。
　全体的にサバイバー数が増加しているのは一部の国の人口増加によるところが大きいが、その他の国ではＦＧＭが減少傾向にある点を報告書は強調している。
　例えばシエラレオネでは、ＦＧＭサバイバーが１５～１９歳の全女性に占める割合が、３０年間で９５％から６１％に減少した。エチオピア、ブルキナファソ、ケニアでも大幅な減少が記録されている。
　一方、ＦＧＭサバイバーが１５～４９歳の全女性に占める割合が多い国は、９９％のソマリアを筆頭に、ギニアの９５％、ジブチの９０％、マリの８９％と続いている。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/03/08-18:39）

The number of female genital mutilation survivors tops 230 million worldwide, UNICEF said in a new report Thursday, an increase of 15 percent since 2016 despite progress against the practice in some countries.
It is indeed bad news. This is a huge number, a number that is bigger than ever before, said Claudia Coppa, lead author of the report released to coincide with International Women's Day.
Female genital mutilation, known as FGM, can include partial or total removal of the clitoris as well as the labia minora, and suturing of the vaginal opening to narrow it.
FGM, which can cause fatal bleeding or infections, can also have long-term consequences such as fertility problems, childbirth complications, stillbirth and painful sexual intercourse.
Africa is home to the most number of FGM survivors with more than 144 million, ahead of Asia (80 million) and the Middle East (six million), according to the survey of 31 countries where the practice is common.
The overall increase is largely due to population growth in certain countries but the report highlighted progress in reducing its prevalence in other places.
In Sierra Leone, the percentage of girls aged 15 to 19 who have undergone genital mutilation has fallen in 30 years from 95 percent to 61 percent.
Ethiopia, Burkina Faso and Kenya also recorded strong declines.
But in Somalia, 99 percent of women between 15 and 49 have undergone genital mutilation, as well as 95 percent in Guinea, 90 percent in Djibouti and 89 percent in Mali.
We're also seeing a worrying trend that more girls are subjected to the practice at younger ages, many before their fifth birthday, UNICEF chief Catherine Russell said in a statement.
That further reduces the window to intervene. We need to strengthen the efforts of ending this harmful practice.
- 'Remember the pain' -
Progress needs to increase to 27 times the current level to eradicate the practice by 2030, as called for in the UN's Agenda for Sustainable Development.
But even if perceptions are evolving, FGM has been in existence for centuries. So changing social norms and practices that are related to this norm takes time, Coppa said.
In some societies, for example, it is considered a necessary rite of passage, in other contexts it is a way of preserving, for example, the chastity of girls. It's a way of controlling girls' sexuality, she said.
Mothers may personally oppose the procedure and remember the pain... but sometimes the pain is less than the shame, is less than the consequences that they will have to witness, them and their daughters, if they do not conform to expectations.
These are not cruel mothers, Coppa said. They're trying to do what they think is expected of them and their daughters.
Girls who have not undergone FGM, for example, might face repercussions such as not being considered for marriage.
UNICEF, the UN children's agency, continues to push for laws prohibiting FGM, but also the importance of girls' education in its eradication.
As for the role of men and boys, while in some countries they favor the continuation of FGM, in others women and girls are the ones reluctant to abandon the age-old practice.
But the men and boys remain silent.... And this silence gives the impression that there is active acceptance of the practice. So everybody needs to take a stand, Coppa said.