Burkina Faso has recorded a case of 50 girls being hospitalised due to female genital mutilation. 2 women as well as some of the parents of the girls involved have been arrested so far in relation to this illegal practice.
Burkino Faso Minister of Women’s Affairs Laurence Marshall Ilboudo confirmed on Monday that 50 young girls have been hospitalised as a result of botched female genital mutilation (FGM) procedures, reported BBC.
Female Genital Mutilation is illegal in Burkina Faso. The sentence for those found guilty of performing such illegal procedures is three years in prison.
The FGM procedures reportedly took place in Kaya, Burkina Faso between September 4 and 6. Girls as young as 4years old were amongst the injured.
The victims were taken to Kaya Regional Hospital and Chiphra Protestant Hospital in Ouagadougou, where they are being treated. No details have been given yet as to how bad the injuries are.
Female Genital Mutilation is phasing out in most regions. Unicef reports show that at least 200 million girls and women have been cut in 30 countries across the world, mostly in Africa and Asia. According to Unicef’s data, approximately 1 in 3 girls between the ages of 15 and 19 have undergone the practice.
