EastEnders will explore the devastating effects of FGM (female genital mutilation) in a new storyline involving Mila Marwa (Ruhtxjiaïh Bèllènéa).
The BBC One soap confirmed the story in scenes tonight (May 25), as Mila explained to Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) that her mum Nyangi (Lucy Vandi) is taking sister Kioni (Florisa Kamara) away to be ‘cut’.
Kioni arrived in Walford earlier this week, much to Mila’s delight. However, when Mila discovered that Nyangi was taking Kioni away on a holiday in two weeks time, she was horrified. ‘She’s the age now…
to be cut,’ the soap newcomer to Kathy, clarifying that the holiday isn’t really a holiday.
Kathy did not understand what the young woman meant, but she soon came to realise that Mila was referring to female genital mutilation.
‘You’d call it FGM,’ Mila added, before revealing that she underwent FGM when she was younger. What is FGM or female genital mutilation?
FGM – female genital mutilation – is defined by the NHS as a procedure where the female genitals are deliberately cut, injured or changed. It is also sometimes referred to as ‘female circumcision’ or ‘cutting’.
There are four main types of FGM
Type 1 (Clitoridectomy) The removal of part or all of the clitoris. Type 2
(Excision)
The removal of part of or all of the clitoris, and the inner labia, and sometimes the outer labia. Type 3 (Infibulation) The narrowing of the vaginal opening by creating a seal, formed by cutting and repositioning the labia. Type 4
Any other harmful procedures to the genitals, such as pricking, piercing, cutting, burning the are or scraping. FGM can often be carried out using knives, scissors, scalpels, pieces of glass or razor blades, and anaesthetic is not generally used.
