WOMEN AND YOUNG GIRLS STILL BEING VIOLATED BY ARCHAIC TRADITIONS
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women. It reflects deep-rooted inequality between the sexes, and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against women. It is nearly always carried out on minors, violating the rights of children. The practice also violates a person's rights to health, security and physical integrity; the right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman, degrading treatment; and the right to life when the procedure results in death.
But you will be surprised to know that in this very century where we should have the freedom to live life on our own terms there still exists countries where FGM is an ongoing phenomenon. WHY? You ask? In countries where rape is not yet fully outlawed, the reasons used for female genital mutilation are limited only by the imagination.
For your kindest information, there are 4 major types of FGM:
Type 1: Often referred to as "clitoridectomy", this is the partial or total removal of the clitoris (a small, sensitive and erectile part of the female genitals), and in very rare cases, only the prepuce (the fold of skin surrounding the clitoris).
Type 2: Often referred to as "excision", this is the partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora (the inner folds of the vulva), with or without excision of the labia majora (the outer folds of skin of the vulva).
Type 3: Often referred to as "infibulation", this is the narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal. The seal is formed by cutting and repositioning the labia minora, or labia majora, sometimes through stitching, with or without removal of the clitoris (clitoridectomy).
Type 4: This includes all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, e.g. pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterizing the genital area.
Deinfibulation refers to the practice of cutting open the sealed vaginal opening in a woman who has been infibulated, which is often necessary for improving health and well-being, as well as to allow intercourse or to facilitate childbirth.
After years and years of protests from activists in Somaliland, which has one of the world’s highest rates of FGM, they only last month announced a fatwa (religious edict) banning Type 2 and Type 3 of female cutting. Even though this is a major step forward, the fatwa has no legal significance without supporting legislation, and it does not outlaw Type 1 FGM which is the most commonly practiced.
It is still uncertain whether the present cabinet will fully condemn and outlaw FGM, as there has been no indication of the type, or severity, of punishment that those who continue to practice FGM will face. Also if only two types of FGM gets legally condemned by the religious ministry, it will be allowing and legitimizing Type 1 FGM. Thus feeding the blurred lines between religious issues and delusional man-made cultural practices.
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