FGM

Indonesia: FGM/C Regulations Mistaken As Endorsement, Experts Fear

Publication Date: 
September 1, 2011
Source: 
IRIN
About 12% of baby girls born in Indonesian hospitals, birthing centres or assisted by midwives have undergone FGM/C. Photo: IRIN


WEST JAVA, 1 September 2011 (IRIN) - Guidelines on how to perform female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) issued by the Indonesian Ministry of Health could cause an increase in the practice, medical experts and rights groups fear.

"This will give doctors a new motivation to circumcise [girls] because now they can say the Ministry of Health approves of this, and the Indonesian Ulamas' Council approves of it," Jurnalis Uddin, doctor and lecturer at Yarsi University [ ] in Jakarta, told IRIN.

Though FGM/C was banned in 2006, two of Indonesia's Muslim organizations, including the largest and mostly moderate Nahdlatul Ulama, ultimately condone the practice advising "not to cut too much", and, as a result, many continue to perform the procedure. [http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=90366]

Kenya: Law passed against FGM

Publication Date: 
September 8, 2011
Source: 
The Guardian
Message to UN women: No FGM (Photograph: guardian.co.uk)


Kenya has become the latest African country to ban female genital mutilation, with the passing of a law making it illegal to practice or procure it or take somebody abroad for cutting. The law even prohibits derogatory remarks about women who have not undergone FGM. Offenders may be jailed or fined or both.

Iraqi Kurdistan Bans Female Genital Mutilation

Publication Date: 
July 26, 2011
Source: 
AFP
fgm.jpg


Human Rights Watch on Tuesday welcomed a draft law banning female genital mutilation by the regional government in Iraqi Kurdistan.

The Family Violence Bill approved June 21 by the autonomous government includes several provisions criminalising the practice in Kurdistan, HRW, said, adding that prevalence of FGM among girls and women in Kurdistan "is at least 40 percent."

"By passing this law, the Kurdistan regional government has shown its resolve to end female genital mutilation and to protect the rights of women and girls," said Nadya Khalife, Middle East women's rights researcher at Human Rights Watch.

UK: Girls at risk of mutilation abroad

Publication Date: 
July 4, 2011
Source: 
The Independent


Thousands of British schoolgirls as young as eight face being taken abroad this summer to have their genitals mutilated and stitched up to preserve "purity".

A campaign by the Metropolitan Police and Foreign Office will suggest that more than 22,000 girls under the age of 15 risk being taken abroad by their family for "cutting", based on data from The International Centre for Reproductive Health.

Campaigners say the victims are being failed by a lack of awareness from teachers and neighbours.

Indonesia: Government regulation on female circumcision must be repealed



VNC is supporting the demand by Indonesian women's groups that the Indonesian government repeal the recent regulation issued by the Ministry of Health which allows female genital circumcision to be carried out by medical professionals. 

UK - Multi-Agency Practice Guidelines: Female Genital Mutilation

Publication Date: 
June, 2011


The United Kingdom Government released its  of Multi-Agency Practice Guidelines: Female Genital Mutilation. Though female genital mutilation (FGM) in the UK is illegal, 24,000 British girls under the age of 15 still are in grave danger of FGM in its harshest form.

These guidelines seek to address this gap by providing recommendations, strategies, and support to professionals working with people affected by FGM.

UN: Special Rapporteur Juan E. Méndez reiterates FGM as a form of torture

Publication Date: 
June 1, 2011
Source: 
WUNRN
Juan E Mendez - UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment


Female Genital Mutilation: Progress-Realities-Challenges

 Statement by Juan E. Méndez, Special Rapporteur on Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Side Event sponsored by Women’s UN Report Network, Inter-African Committee, Worldwide Organization for Women and NGO Committee on the Status of Women-Geneva. 1 June 2011

FGM: It happens in Malaysia too

Publication Date: 
February 3, 2011
Source: 
The Malaysian Insider
File photo of a traditional surgeon holding razor blades before carrying out female genital mutilation on teenage girls -Reuters


KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 3 — Female genital mutilation (FGM) is not a familiar custom in Malaysia. FGM is synonymous with the Middle East and African countries, and is a shocking and barbaric practice. A number of academics and researchers have expressed concern over what seems to be a growing prevalence of FGM in Malaysia.

Global Consultation on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting

Publication Date: 
January, 2008
Global Consultation on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting - UNFPA


This publication contains rich research findings concerning global trends and the prevalence of female genital mutilation/cutting and its linkages with maternal and newborn health. It describes changing patterns and practices, including medicalization, and analyzes the threat FGM/C poses to the achievement of Millennium Development Goals as well as its economic and health costs. It identifies important lessons and discusses in detail case studies as well as the application of theories as a basis for accelerating the abandonment process.

Mutilations génitales féminines et droits humains en Afrique

Publication Date: 
April, 1998

Introduction

Les armes se sont à peine tues après plusieurs années de lutte entre groupes fratricides, que la Sierra Leone est revenue à la une de l’actualité africaine, pour un fait classé divers. En effet, le quotidien sénégalais, Le Soleil, rapportant une dépêche de l’Agence France-Presse, titrait : « Arrêt des excisions pendant le Ramadan » (20 janvier 1977). Quelques semaines plus tôt, la même agence s’était fait l’écho d’un événement survenu dans un camp de réfugiés de Grafton, à une centaine de Km de Freetown, la capitale. <--break->Il s’agissait d’une cérémonie collective durant laquelle près de 600 jeunes filles avaient été excisées.