“German physicians lack expertise and sensitivity in female genital mutilation”

[Deeq A.]

With such thorns, a girl in Somaliland is “locked up” again after genital mutilation. (Arndt Peltner)

 

According to women’s rights activist Elvira Niesner, German doctors are lacking in specialist knowledge and sensitivity with regard to women who have been mutilated on their genitals.

The medical profession is not sufficiently qualified for the subject, said the managing director of the advice center “woman right is human right” in Frankfurt am Main of the FAZ. Another special feature is that many women are both victims and perpetrators. Mothers made sure that their daughters were circumcised. The topics of genital cutting and intercultural competence should play a greater role in the training of gynecologists, demanded Niesner.

The doctor, Petra Tiarks-Jungk, from the Frankfurt Office for Health commented similarly. Many women did not immediately talk about their circumcision. They believed that everything was normal with them. Frequently, those affected also have problems recognizing the injustice inflicted on them. It takes time for them to allow the thought that their culture and tradition have harmed their bodies.

The Hessian SPD parliamentary group had recently submitted a parliamentary inquiry to the State Ministry of Social Affairs. Accordingly, there were 572 cases of genital mutilation in Hesse in 2016. It is assumed that the number of unreported cases is significantly higher.

Many affected women come to Germany as refugees. However, the interventions are also made in Europe individually and in secret. The history of the ritual goes back to antiquity. Female genital mutilation is still widespread across religious boundaries in about 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. One reason is the social pressure that the parents feel. Who does not let his daughters cut, is outlawed socially. The World Health Organization claims up to 200 million victims. In the case of female mutilation, the outer genitalia are cut off, in more extreme forms the clitoris as well as the labia are removed and the vagina sewn up to a small hole.

This is an article written in German language and translated via Google Translation.