69 million page views

FGM as a human rights violation

Reader comment on item: Female Genital Mutilation: A Guide to Laws and Policies Worldwide

Submitted by maxamed xaashi Dhoorre ceyr Habaraji (Kenya), Apr 3, 2010 at 01:41

  • Every day, thousands of girls are targeted for mutilation. FGM involves the deliberate infliction of severe pain and suffering and its effects can be life threatening. FGM is often perpetrated on girls from birth to adolescence and is a grave violation of Children's Human Rights. Most survivors must face physical and mental scars for the rest of their lives. Violence against women and girls in the home or in the community is regarded as a "private" issue; the fact that perpetrators are private actors rather than state officials has often precluded FGM from being seen as a human rights concern.
  • FGM is a manifestation of gender-based human rights violations that exist in all cultures that aim to control women's sexuality and autonomy. Though striking because of its severity and scale, FGM cannot be viewed in isolation. Recognizing that FGM is one of many forms of social injustice that women suffer worldwide is key to creating societies in which women are valued as full and equal participants.
  • A human rights perspective sets FGM in the context of women's social and economic powerlessness. Recognizing that civil, political, social, economic, and cultural rights are indivisible and interdependent is a crucial starting point for addressing the range of factors that perpetuate FGM. A human rights framework affirms that the rights of women to physical and mental integrity, to freedom from discrimination and to the highest standard of health are universal. Violations of these rights can never be justified.
Submitting....

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

Submit a comment on this item

<< Previous Comment      Next Comment >>

Reader comments (10) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
5A board certified Egyptian pediatrician is promoting female genital mutilation here in the US [131 words]dhimmi no moreMay 8, 2012 06:55195515
1FGM as a human rights violation [244 words]maxamed xaashi Dhoorre ceyr HabarajiApr 3, 2010 01:41170896
World Health Organization's map of % of FGM by country [70 words]kathleen7546Apr 15, 2011 20:02170896
FGM and International Law [152 words]Mohamed Hashi Dhorre Habargidir eyrApr 3, 2010 01:38170895
Female genital mutilation [109 words]Mohamed Hashi DoreMar 29, 2010 18:33170756
1muslim genital mutilation is evil. [68 words]Phil GreendJun 1, 2007 12:1095654
your heading [110 words]john garangOct 8, 2010 18:0495654
female genital cutting [99 words]Mohamed Hashi DhorreApr 25, 2006 15:3144133
1Female circumcision [101 words]Nange JudeFeb 25, 2012 08:1244133
Messed up chronology [65 words]JamesJan 15, 2003 20:015796

Follow Daniel Pipes

Facebook   Twitter   RSS   Join Mailing List

All materials by Daniel Pipes on this site: © 1968-2024 Daniel Pipes. daniel.pipes@gmail.com and @DanielPipes

Support Daniel Pipes' work with a tax-deductible donation to the Middle East Forum.Daniel J. Pipes

(The MEF is a publicly supported, nonprofit organization under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Tax-ID 23-774-9796, approved Apr. 27, 1998.

For more information, view our IRS letter of determination.)