Guardfem – Guardfem | Empowering young women and marginalized communities

What does FGM mean?
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a harmful practice that is recognized worldwide...
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What we stand for?
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a harmful practice that is recognised worldwide...
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What we do?
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a harmful practice that is recognised worldwide...
Read More
What can you do?
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a harmful practice that is recognised worldwide...
Read More

What does FGM mean?

FGM is an acronym of “Female Genital Mutilation.” It includes all the methods which are used to intentionally alter the female genital organs for the sake of non-medical reasons.

Background

FGM is a social convention, and it has nothing to do with health benefits for girls or women, in fact, it is entirely against fundamental human rights. People are socially pressurized to do because of their elders and other stakeholders in the community. Though it has no health benefits because of the fear of community rejection, this process is still perpetual and unquestionable. FGM is carried out from infancy to puberty and sometimes even beyond that but in most of the areas people go with it before the age 5.
FGM has considered as an essential part of raising girls, and it has associated with modesty, premarital virginity, and marital fidelity. According to a research in 2016 more than 200 million girls and women are a victim of this in about 30 countries of the world. FGM is in common practice in Africa , Asia and the Middle East.

Methods

There are four methods of FGM in general practice as given below:
1. The first method is clitoridectomy in which total or partial removal of the clitoris happens.
2. In the second method along with clitoris partial or total removal of labia minora is done with or without excision of labia majora.
3. The third method of FGM referred as infibulation in which the narrowing of vaginal opening happened with the help of covering seal. That usually done by repositioning labia minora or principal with the help of cutting or stitching.
4. Last but not the least method comprised of all the unhealthy procedures like incising, piercing, pricking, cauterizing or scraping of female genital parts for the same cause.

Health Hazards of FGM

As mentioned before that FGM is not a medical but a social practice, it has no significant health benefit to females. Below is the long list of health hazards which unfortunately victimized young girls and women face here in Kenya.

Severe Pain
Excessive Bleeding
Swelling of genital tissues
Multiple Infections
Urinary tract problems
Menstrual Problems
Sexual Issues
Psychological problems
Shock
Death
Keloid/Scar Tissue
Complications in childbirth

WHAT GUARDFEM DO?

1. Our organization GUARDFEM fight against FGM which is deeply rooted in Kalenjin and other communities because of old believes which don’t have any beneficial standing in this advanced era.
2. We provide protective services to the girls vulnerable to FGM and Early marriages.
3. Providing awareness and advocacy in victimized communities.
4. Providing capacity building and moral support to the ladies going through the hazards of FGM.
5. Working against the challenges coming in support of FGM and early marriages.
6. Providing necessary information, data and statistical records to the community and other stockholders for the betterment of common cause.

What can you do?

NEWS & EVENTS

CREATING THE POSSIBILITY: EDUCATION
02/07/2018
Beside a thick, bushy region stood a rusty, iron sheet house- Domino church where this young, potential students have to walk for approximately 10 miles in order to acquire broad and critical knowledge, education. Since it is the key eradicator of poverty.

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