The Unjustified Practice: Genital Mutilation as a Cultural Tradition

The Unjustified Practice: Genital Mutilation as a Cultural Tradition

Genital mutilation or female genital mutilation (FGM) is a cultural practice that involves the partial or total removal of female genital organs for non-medical reasons. This practice is mostly carried out in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, and it has no health benefits but rather causes severe and long-lasting physical and psycho-social damage to affected persons.

The Cultural Context of Genital Mutilation

Genital mutilation is deeply tied to traditional cultural beliefs and values, and it is often seen as a rite of passage that marks a girl’s entrance into womanhood or marriageability. In many communities, it is also believed to enhance cleanliness or to reduce sexual desire and promiscuity among women. Despite the lack of any scientific basis for these claims, the practice has persisted for over a thousand years and still thrives in some communities.

The Health Risks of Genital Mutilation

Genital mutilation has both immediate and long-term health effects that vary depending on the severity of the procedure. The immediate risks include severe pain, hemorrhage, shock, or even death. In the long term, girls and women who have undergone genital mutilation may suffer from recurrent infections, painful menstruation, infertility, sexual dysfunction, and psychological trauma that lasts a lifetime.

Legal and Ethical Issues

Genital mutilation violates the fundamental human rights of girls and women, such as their right to life, physical integrity, and health. It is also a form of gender-based violence and discrimination that perpetuates harmful cultural norms and practices. Several international laws and conventions have outlawed the practice, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.

Ending the Practice

Ending genital mutilation requires a comprehensive approach that involves education, advocacy, and community engagement. Education on the harmful effects of the practice should target both boys and girls, parents, and community leaders. Legal frameworks that prohibit and penalize the practice should be enforced, and healthcare providers should be trained to identify and provide care for affected persons. Moreover, community engagement programs that promote alternative rites of passage that do not involve genital mutilation should be encouraged and supported.

Conclusion

Genital mutilation is a cultural tradition that has persisted for centuries, but it has no place in modern-day society. It causes physical and psychological harm to girls and women, violates their human rights, and perpetuates harmful gender norms and stereotypes. Ending this practice requires sustained efforts from all stakeholders, including governments, civil society organizations, community leaders, and affected communities. Only then can we ensure a world where all girls and women can live free from harm and enjoy their fundamental human rights.