Humanelaw

Female Genital Cutting is a term which refers to all measures relating partial or total eradication of the external genital organs of the female or additional injuries to the female genital organs. Female Genital Cutting also commonly known as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is any procedure involving the elimination of female genital organs for religious, cultural or non-beneficial reasons that are not medical necessities.

Female Genital Mutilation involves a process of Clitoridectomy that is the removal of part of female genitals known as clitoris. Female Genital Cutting is most commonly performed in the age group ranging from 4 – 8 years of girls. It can take place at any age from toddler to adolescence.

There are no health benefits to girls and women in this process. This process involves destructing healthy female genital tissues and harming them in many ways. Female Genital Mutilation is universally identified as a violation of human rights of women and girls.

FGM depicts deep- rooted inequality between male and female and constitutes a tremendous form of discrimination against girls and women. It is a violation of rights of children as it is commonly performed on minors. This practice also violates women’s right to health- safety and physical honor. Female Genital Cutting has immediate as well as long term ill effects. The immediate consequences of this process are shock, intense pain, bleeding etc. The other serious ill effects are infection, infertility etc. These ill effects violate the protection of mental and physical state of girls and women.

Female Genital Cutting is regarded as one of the most disgusting means of violation of the right of women and girls. Research suggests that approximately 100 – 140 million women and girls worldwide currently exist with the consequences of female genital cutting. This practice should be banned in order to ensure the protection of fundamental rights of girls and women. Female genital mutilation may sometime result in death of a girl or women; thereby violating the right to life. The prohibition of such practice will ensure girls and women better status of living. Though many laws have forbidden such practice; it still remains a lasting tradition in many cultural groups and societies. This practice holds much marital and cultural importance in the society. World Health Organization is continually striving for the protection of health of women in the community and thereby achieving their fundamental rights.