UNICEF and Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting
Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is a procedure that is practiced in many African countries, and involves the excision of all or part of the clitoris or labia, and sometimes the stitching together of the vaginal entry. This procedure is excruciatingly painful, and can lead to shock, urine retention, ulceration of the genitals, blood-poisoning, infertility, and obstructed labour (Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: 2005 Statistical Exploration by UNICEF).
UNICEF has been involved with this issue for quite a while "working closely with it's partners around the world in the campaign for the abandonment of FGM/C everywhere within a generation." *
They are working with representatives from several African countries and several more religious leaders to discuss measures against FGM/C. These discussions have been successful, and in Niger FGM has been abandoned in 5 districts. In 2003 the government passed a law that will impose fines and jail time for those conducting FGM/C. **
Even though UNICEF and other organizations are doing many things to end this procedure, it still persists in many places. Some people think that it is a good thing for women, that it brings them success (see quote at www.unicef.org/inforbycountry/niger_49292.html).
Others think that it was in line with their religious dictates and that it is a good way, and a good custom, to purify girls before their marriage (see link).
I think that this is a horrifying custom, and I don't understand how generations of women could impose it on their daughters after experiencing it themselves. Even now in Western societies, with Western biomedicines the health risks are too great for people to continue to do this to young girls.
key concepts used: female genital cutting, Western biomedicine
* quote found here
This is really horrible and it's hard for me to understand why people would do something like this when it so obviously does not have any advantages. Of course people say it's part of their culture and that it's something they've been doing forever but i think this is one of those areas where you should step in and stop this, because it may be part of their culture but i don't believe it helps them in any way and i think if the dangers of this act were explained people would understand better.
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