Women and girls in Somaliland undergo female genital mutilation (FGM) at age of 5 to 14 years. 98% of women and girls in Somaliland undergone the practice of FGC and subjected them to FGC which is the total or partial removal of the external female genitalia or other injuries to the female genitalia for non-medical reasons[1].
During the Pandemic crisis of the COVID19, the government of Somaliland has imposed restriction movement, and partially lockdown to the public and private schools and universities. This pandemic lockdown forced the young girls to spend more time with their families at home and circumcisers with supporting girl’s families gained opportunities to scale up their efforts to provide circumcision services in the villages and their neighbor families.
As reported by organizations and stakeholders involved the ending female genital mutilation, and field workers in Somaliland, there has been an increase in female genital mutilation during COVID19.
In addition to the growing number of female genital mutilation (FGM) cases, Nafis Network is concerned about the situation in the country about COVID19 infection and the increase in female genital mutilation.
Nafis Network urges all those who are interested in ending female genital mutilation, and the independent institutions of the government of Somaliland, to work together to respond and protect young girls from female genital mutilation. The report shows that girls will be at greater risk of being circumcised after the schools have been closed and It can make it easier for COVID19 to get infected which can put the young girl at risk.
Field workers of the Nafis Network reported during the COVID19 crisis, 20 girls have been subjected to FGC practice in Abdaal and Dhalocad in the Sahir Region of Somaliland. Field workers are worrying incident of the high number of cases of FGC during the crisis of COVID19 due to a lack of legal action that could protect the young girl to undergo an FGC practice.
The harmful practices of FGC are practiced in Somaliland without legal enforcement in the country and the harmful practice of FGC has been deeply entrenched in the Somaliland Communities and general Africa.
Somaliland, Covid-19 Daily Update [2] states the total of COVID19 cases found in Somaliland was estimated at 2174 cases, while on March 16, 2021, 66 new cases were found Somaliland, As the Covid19 Second wave has hit in Somaliland. In this week, The Vice president of Somaliland Mr. Abdurrahman Saylici, and Vice Minister of Health Mahdi Osman, and the Minister of Finance Sa’ad A Shire are all confirmed positive[3]
Therefore, the second lockdown is expecting from the government of Somaliland, and all Public and private institution will reclose,
This has raised concerns among organizations and stakeholders working to end female genital mutilation that the number of girls who will be circumcised will increase and schools will be closed again.
Nafis Network is calling on the President of the Republic of Somaliland, Muse Bihi Abdi, and the legislatures to come up with a law and plan to protect girls from being circumcised during COVID19. The government should also issue a statement to prevent or stop female genital mutilation and control the spread of COVID19.
[1] WHO
[2] https://twitter.com/SomalilandMoHD
[3] https://twitter.com/VPsomaliland