Female Genital Mutiliation

egg-producing(prenominal) venereal MutiliationFemale genital MutilationAccording to the definition of the worldly concern Health Organization (WHO), Female genital Mutilation (FGM), also gon as distaff genital cutting and female circumcision, means partial or comp allowe non-therapeutic removal or fault of each of the external female genitals for sacred or hea indeedish reasons (utz-billing Kentenich 225). FGM is an injury, animal(prenominal) and mental harm towards women and girls. Female venereal Mutilation has existed for over ii thousand years, and over 125 million women and girls brook rund FGM in about 30 countries (Wilson 2013). It happens to 2 million girls e rattling year (utz-billing Kentenich 226). FGM is performed principally in Africa. (utz-billing Kentenich 226).A narrative coming from the article from Bulletin of the creation Health Organization describes a real story, I was just seven close to years old when I was cut, said Leyla Hussein, a Britis h fair sex of Somali origin. The first thing I hears was my sister screaming. Then it was my turn. quartette women held me down while they cut my clitoris. I felt all(prenominal) integrity cut. The pain was so intense I blacked out. (Shetty,Priya 6).Instruments that be used to work FGM be unsterilized knives, razors, scalpels, pieces of broken glass, and so forward, or sterilized instruments down the stairs medical conditions (utz-billing Kentenich 226). The ages of girls/women when they undergo circumcision differ regionally (utz-billing Kentenich 225). In Ethiopia and Nigeria, 7- to 8-day-old babies be mutilated. In Somalia, Sudan and Egypt, girls, between 5 and 10 years old, experience circumcision. In many regions in East Africa, women undergo the circumcision during the wedding night, in few regions in West Africa during their first pregnancy (utz-billing Kentenich 225).There are four oddballs of FGM in confide. Type one (clitoridectomy) means removal of the cl itoral foreskin type two ( slash) stands for removal of the clitoris with partial or total excision of the labia minor type three (infibulation) stands for removal of the clitoris and the labia minora and majora an early(a)(prenominal) types such(prenominal) as pricking, piercing of clitoris or vulva, scraping of the vagina, and so forth, are classified as type four (utz-billing Kentenich 226).Many of women and girls who withdraw undergone rough forms of FGM suffer severe mental, physical and mixer consequences. Women will suffer diametrical types of physical consequences of FGM, such as bleeding, wound infections, sepsis, shock, micturition difficultys, fractures, and so forth, as well as undertaking chronic physical problems like anemia, infections of the urinary tract, incontinence, in birthrate, pain, menstruation problems, dyspareunia, and so on (utz-billing Kentenich 225). Mental consequences of women after undergoing FGM include the feelings of incompleteness, upkeep , lower rank and suppression that present a great impact on the full-page life of women (utz-billing Kentenich 227). FGM also causes cozy problems such as loss of sexual desire caused by dyspareunia and reduced or no ability to rich person an orgasm are confirmed (utz-billing Kentenich 227).According to the record from Utz-billing and Kentenich, women have near symptoms of chronic irritability and nightmares, and woman also have a high peril for psychiatric diseases such as depressions, psychosis, neurosis and psychosomatic diseases (utz-billing Kentenich 227). maroon on the interview study done by 47 women in Senegal, over 90 % of patients count FGM as a traumatic experience and depict feelings of help slightness, fear, horror and severe pain 78% did non look for the intervention nearly 80% had severe fear or emotional disorders after FGM (utz-billing Kentenich 227).FGM is deeply rooted in the tradition and culture of a society (utz-billing Kentenich 225) in whate ver cultures or societies, FGM is being performed since the mists of time. Female genital Cutting is a social norm, which means that men and women often actualize FGM without question since it is a conventional practice that has occurred in communities from generations to generations (orchid forecast website).FGM serves the hike of the patriarchal family system and can be an instrument for birth control (utz-billing Kentenich 226). FGM is considered as being closely connected with cleanliness, virginity, healthiness, beauty and morality (orchid project website). In nearly societies, the mutilated genital is a symbol of feminity, of rebirth from girl to woman and of beauty (utz-billing Kentenich 226).In some communities, the girl who does non experience circumcision is considered as unclean and sexually promiscuous(orchid project website). On the other side, many communities believe that a girl needs to be cut in order to marry well even though mothers do non want their daug hters to be mutilated because of her own annoying experience, she is less likely to quit the practice as a military issue of social sanctions in practice (orchid project website). In other words, the girls who are cut will have a substantially marriage because the cultivation is to guarantee moral behavior and faithfulness of women to their hus bard, and it also promotes purity and enhances fertility (utz-billing Kentenich 226). On this basis, FGM also serves for protection of the woman from suspicions and disgrace (utz-billing Kentenich 226), and the girls will be thought to be cleaner, more fertile and will be a virgin until her wedding night (orchid project website).In addition, economic reasons capriole an important role in practicing FGM. Parents get money for the pride pro rata to the degree of the operation (utz-billing Kentenich 226). Women who experienced FGM have good incomes and have a high social status (utz-billing Kentenich 226).Based on the research which a total of 500 Nigerian women answered the reasons for FGM done by utz-billing Kentenich, we could know that 95% response that FGM is hunt downd for cultural and handed-down reasons 49% said that FGM helps to hamper promiscuity 18% answered that not mutilated vulva is ugly 11% believed that FGM prevents the closing of male newborns 9% claimed that the reason to perform FGM is due to pressure of relatives 6% reported religious reasons (utz-billing Kentenich 226).Concerning serviceman rights, none of the cultural, religious, or social reasons for the work of FGM could be accepted, since FGM has no health benefits and always leave women with lifelong physical and emotional trauma, and FGM objects women the right of freedom from incarnate detriment.FGM is already condemned by many world(prenominal) organizations the fight to obliterate FGM is now global, with inter subject field agencies such as WHO, the knowledge domain Medical Association, the UNESCO, United Nations Children s Fund (UNICER), and so forth (utz-billing Kentenich 228), and has strong support from governments. Looking back to history, international pressure to culmination FGM has been aggrandizing since 1997, when the WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA issued a joint statement calling on governments to ban the practice (Shetty,Priya 6). The commitment was renewed in 2008 and, in 2012, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution to enhance efforts towards the elimination of FGM (Shetty,Priya 6). Great Britain, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Belgium have specific laws that ban FGM (utz-billing Kentenich 228). Africa, Egypt, Benin, Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bisson, Kenya, Niger, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda and the Central African Republic are in the course of eliminating the practice of FGM with specific laws (utz-billing Kentenich 228). Canada, USA, New Zealand and Australia also have laws against FGM (utz-billing Kentenich 228). For instance, in Germany, F GM is regarded as a simple, dangerous, serious bodily injury, manslaughter, or maltreatment of wards offenders who execute FGM can be sentenced to 15-year imprisonment (utz-billing Kentenich 228). Throughout history, the very first international seminar about FGM was held in 1979, recommending the adoption of clear national policies, establishment of national commissions, intensification of general public awareness, and TBA direction (Wilson 27). After several decades of doing cross-agency evaluated studies, papers, and articles recommending methods to eliminate FGM, and dimension many conferences, six key factors for waiving FGM have become well accept by NGOs and government bodies as good practice. These six key elements are a non-coercive, non-judgmental human rights approach, community awareness rearing of the harmfulness of the practice, the decision to abandon needs to be collective, necessity of community public affirmation of apostasy, intercommunity diffusion of th e decision, and a supportive, diversify-enabling environment (Wilson 27).Based on the six key factors mentioned above, ascertaining the most impressive and suitable strategies for eliminating FGM has become a controversial issue referring to moral, disease, and legal models (Wilson 27). Furthermore, agree to Diop, in order to effectively end FGM, human rights-based fostering programs should be continued, legislation against FGM should be enforced and funding both locally and nationwide for initiatives to end FGM should be increased (Priya Shetty 7).Adopting a comm nevertheless stands, some fence that practicing FGM should be condemned and punished by legislation however, formal legislation is considered as a poor instrument in terms of cultural change (Wilson 27). Moreover, the legislative approach does not work effectively. The situation is that several supreme states have legislation which criminalize the practice of FGM, either as a specific criminal act or as an act of b odily hard or injury, and many states have an extraterritoriality clause which work outs it unlawful for their citizens to go abroad to let FGM practice (Brown, Katherine, David Beecham, and filbert Barrett 3). UKs Female genital Mutilation Act (2003) only applies to those who have permanent residency rights, so race having temporary residency visas, such as students, undocumented migrants and asylum seekers, and so forth, are uncommitted (Brown, Katherine, David Beecham, and Hazel Barrett 3). Therefore, as Diop said, legislation against FGM should be tougher and be enforced so that FGM can be effectively solved. In other words, what governments should do is to implement appropriate legislation and policies to keep girls from being taken overseas and undergone the circumcision.Simple education campaigns that are designed to impart intimacy on the disadvantageous health outcomes of FGM can be problematic as well, although these education campaigns do a little work (Wilson 27). W omen in some countries are not given the same educational opportunities as men. In other words, women have very little power if they want to end the cycle of mutilation, they would be left behind and would be in distract (Emily Deruy intelligence). Since FGM is deeply rooted in the tradition and culture of a society, women fear that if they do not make their girls cut, these girls would not be good for marriage, which would make their lives be full of exclusion and poverty in many places (Emily Deruy News).Advocating education can be a possible solution for ending FGM. cultivation could lead women to the labor market, which would have an impact on weakening traditional family structures. School should be rooking an important part in raising awareness of FGM. An education program adopted by any inform can provide a breakthrough in cultural attitudes (Nursing banal 35). School can also impart knowledge to girls from people from varied cultures and from mentors who do not suppo rt FGM in the meanwhile, girls may be less likely to continue the cycle of mutilation (Emily Deruy News). Not only women and girls should be educated, just now also men and boys should be educated. Educating men and boys about the harm and jeopardy of FGM is considerable. One report released by UNICEF presents selective information demonstrating that in many countries where FGM takes place most women and men designate the practice should end (Priya Shetty 6). But the problem is that even though men want the FGM to end and they have to follow it because of social reasons (Emily Deruy News). On this point, the status of women should be increased via education so that women could have abilities to fight for themselves however, increasing the status of women is also a complex and deep problem involving culture, societies, and tradition.Public declaration for ending FGM could be a possible solution. According to David Adam, by spreading the message of abandonment along their social n etworks, neighboring communities are introduced to the idea of abandonment, often reduction or even removing resistance to the idea (Priya Shetty 7). This solution works effectively. For example, the very first public declaration took place in Senegal in 1997, and since then the number of community abandoning FGM has grown exponentially (Orchid bug out website). Moreover, communities in Guinea, Somalia and the Gambia have done public declarations of abandoning practice, which is good, and other communities are declaring as well (Orchid Project website).In addition, FGM messaging that encourages abandonment can be introduced in the social media, which could draw attention to people all over the world and let people start focusing on FGM (Orchid Project website). Also religious leaders, government officials, celebrities, and superstars can take good advantage of their influential voices in order to contribute to support FGM abandonment (Orchid Project website).Not only NGOs and gove rnments want to abandon FGM, but also churches in Kenya are marriage in effort to end female genital mutilation. The Kenyan bishops and other faith groups are combined together to form a deputation to help to end the practice of Female genital Mutilation (National Catholic reporter 6). Since the church is interested in promoting values and cultures that will enhance human life, what they have done is to sign the national plan for the clergy to outlaw the execution of FGM, and they consider FGM as a retrogressive practice which degrades a womans life(National Catholic Reporter 6). So the churches in Kenya regard that FGM must be stopped. In short, compared to what NGOs and governments have done, churches do not have great influence on ending FGM, but churches range a helpful role in assisting to end FGM.Overall, those people and organizations that do not support FGM are always trying to find some ways to stop FGM however, what they have done does not effectively play a part in en ding practices in short term, but their efforts do work. Whereas, the progress in ending FGM is slow. On the basis of entropy from Priya Shetty, the rate of FGM in a few countries are decreasing. In Kenya, these rates in women aged 15- to 49- year-old fell from 38% in 1998 to 26% in 2008 in the Central African Republic, rates fell from 43% in 1994 to 24% in 2010 (Shetty,Priya 6).After several decades of effort by every single movement of abandoning Female Genital Mutilation, according to the UNFPA/UNICEF Joint Program, 10,000 communities have abandoned Female Genital Mutilation all over the world, which is a good sign (Orchid Project website). This phenomenon occurs in the countries, such as Senegal, Mauritania, Kenya, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, and Nigeria (Orchid Project website). This data tells us that attitudes towards FGM have been changing in countries, even though it is not that obvious however, this means even if the execution of FGM is still universal, there is a change in o pinions taking place, which could help to pave the way for advertize action (Orchid Project website). In the light of Orchid Project website, some countries in West Africa made huge progress on FGM abandonment. For instance, over 5,500 villages have abandoned FGM in Senegal (Orchid Project website).It is still sad to know that more than 3 million female infants and children are at risk for undergoing FGM annually (Sipsma 120). The existence of FGM gives these innocent girls and women lifetime pain and injury. I think the existence of FGM is so ridiculous, and it is also ridiculous that women and men in some regions still subject to practice because of tradition, culture, and society, even though they all think FGM should end. Good thing is that some West Africa countries, like Senegal, stop kill FGM and attitudes towards practicing FGM is changing as well. According to this current trend, I could say confidently that ending FGM is a long-term program and is just around the corner, if every single person, NGO, and government continues to work on the projects of ending FGM whole-heartedly.Work CitedBrown, Katherine, David Beecham, and Hazel Barrett. The Applicability Of Behaviour Change In Intervention Programmes Targeted At mop up Female Genital Mutilation In The EU Integrating Social cognitive And Community Level Approaches. Obstetrics Gynecology International (2013) 1-12. academician attend Premier. Web. 12 Dec. 2014.Churches Unite In Effort To End Female Genital Mutilation. National Catholic Reporter 39.26 (2003) 6. Academic Search Premier. Web. 12 Dec. 2014.Emily Deruy, How existent Are the New Solutions to the Female Genital Mutilation Epidemic? ABC News (2013). http//abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/News/realistic-solutions-female-genital-mutilation/story?id=19750777singlePage=true Web. 11 Dec. 2014Orchid Project, http//orchidproject.org/category/about-fgc/why-fgc-happens/Shetty, Priya. long-winded Progress In Ending Female Genital Mutilation. Bulleti n Of The World Health Organization 92.1 (2014) 6-7. Academic Search Premier. Web. 10 Dec. 2014.Sipsma, Heather L., et al. Female Genital Cutting Current Practices And Beliefs In Western Africa. Bulletin Of The World Health Organization 90.2 (2012) 120-127F. Academic Search Premier. Web. 12 Dec. 2014.Utz-Billing, I., and H. Kentenich. Female Genital Mutilation An Injury, Physical And Mental Harm. Journal Of Psychosomatic Obstetrics Gynecology 29.4 (2008) 225-229. Academic Search Premier. Web. 10 Dec. 2014.Wilson, Ann-Marie. How The Methods Used To Eliminate Foot Binding In China Can Be Employed To Eradicate Female Genital Mutilation. Journal Of Gender Studies 22.1 (2013) 17-37. Academic Search Premier. Web. 10 Dec. 2014.