C. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

After issuing a ministerial decree in 1996 banning FGM in public and private health facilities, a legal amendment was introduced in 2008 criminalizing anyone conducting FGM on a girl. The crime is punishable by imprisonment (three months to two years) or a fine. ¹⁹⁴ The ban on FGM has been accompanied by governmental and non-governmental efforts to raise awareness of the negative impacts of the practice on girls and women's health, through the broadcasting of television and radio programs criticizing the practice and the initiation of community projects to raise awareness of women and community leaders. In addition, both the Sheikh of al-Azhar and Pope Shenouda III have repeatedly stated that FGM is not required by Islam or Christianity.¹⁹⁵  The National Council for Childhood and Motherhood also encourages citizens to use the Child Rescue helpline to report girls facing the risk of FGM or physicians conducting the practice.  

Despite these efforts, studies show that FGM is still widely practiced throughout Egypt. The 2008 DHS reports that 91% of all women aged 15-49 have undergone FGM ¹⁹⁶ and although rates of FGM are slightly lower among women under 25, they still exceed 80%. ¹⁹⁷

Beliefs of women and men are the driving force behind the perpetuation of FGM. Although the proportion of ever-married women (aged 15-49) believing that FGM should go on has dropped over the past decade, 63% continue to favor the practice. ¹⁹⁸ Support for the practice is more widespread among women in rural areas than women in urban areas. ¹⁹⁹ In addition, 57% of men (aged 15-49) believe the practice should continue. ²⁰⁰ A recent quantitative study revealed that men are now taking an increasing role in decisions about FGM, and some men request that their wife-to-be undergo FGM before getting married.²⁰¹  Support for the practice is based on the belief that FGM reduces women's sexual desire and therefore helps protect their purity and 'marriageability'.²⁰² 

Moreover, families are misinformed about the medical risks associated with FGM and the majority of women believe that the practice does not pose significant risks to women's health.²⁰³  Equally problematic are the attitudes of medical professionals, given that physicians now undertake more than half of all FGM procedures. ²⁰⁴ Though the government has been successful in shutting down a small number of clinics where FGM was performed,²⁰⁵  the risk of criminalization does not appear to have offset the financial gains of physicians for undertaking FGM procedures. Besides, in a 2006 study exploring the knowledge, beliefs and attitudes of 5th year medical students toward FGM, a worrying 52% of the students supported continuation of the practice. ²⁰⁶ More than half of the students (55.4%) did not believe that FGM violates the human rights of girls and women, and 51.3% believed that mild forms of FGM (cutting only the clitoris) does not lead to any complications and is therefore acceptable.²⁰⁷  Nearly half (49.3%) believed that FGM prevents promiscuity in girls.²⁰⁸ 

Recommendation: The state should endeavor to raise the awareness of women and men, as well as health care providers, focusing on the health consequences of FGM and correcting misconceptions on the link between FGM and women's chastity.  

There remains a significant gap between the provisions of the CEDAW Convention and the reality of women’s reproductive health and lives in Egypt. We appreciate the active interest that the Committee has taken in the reproductive health and rights of women and the strong Concluding Observations and General Recommendations the Committee has issued to governments in the past, stressing the need for governments to take steps to ensure their realization.

We hope that this information is useful during the Committee’s review of Egypt's compliance with the provisions of the CEDAW Convention.  If you have any questions, or would like further information, please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned.