UN bans female genital mutilation ( FGM)
The United Nations General Assembly today passed unanimously a resolution banning the practice of Female Genital Mutilation. This significant milestone towards the ending of harmful practices and violations that constitute serious threat to the health of women and girls was taken by the 194 UN Member States, who approved five General Assembly resolutions today on advancing women’s rights, including one on intensifying global efforts for the elimination of female genital mutilations (FGM).
Female Genital Mutilation affects about 100-140 million women and girls worldwide, and each year it is estimated that an additional three million girls are at risk of being subjected to the practice globally.
“This is a very important step to bringing about cultural and attitudinal change. Just as important though, is working on the ground with governments, communities and other partners to end FGM. UN Women’s experience in Burkina Faso, Benin and other countries shows that while efforts to criminalize FGM are vital, they need to be backed up with services for victims, engaging key influencers and supporting community-based activities to change social norms, as well as practical actions to bring perpetrators to justice,” said John Hendra, UN Women Assistant-Secretary General and Deputy Executive Director.
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well done united nation for for passing a resolution banning female genital multilation practices. now it’s time to pass another resolution on western GAY practice because it’s causes sickness to many in the west.
But why did the UN have to wait for so long to recognise this as a harmful practice. And how are they going to police it, when there are internal conflicts within the countries like practice FGM. This is another political mine field that can turn a vote loser if the sitting govt are not careful in how they interpret or enforce the UN ban. On balance, I welcome this ban as there are serious medical complications with FGM than when that clitoric is left in place.
But why did the UN have to wait for so long to recognise this as a harmful practice. And how are they going to police it, when there are internal conflicts within the countries that practice FGM. This is another political mine field that can turn a vote loser if the sitting govt are not careful in how they interpret or enforce the UN ban. On balance, I welcome this ban as there are serious medical complications with FGM than when that clitoric is left in place.
Hi everyone,
I may start by commending all parties that have made it possible for the African nations in specific to curb this traditional practice.Female genital mutilation has become a social norm in our communities in Africa. I do hope the ban passed by UN is gravely upheld by the natives of those respective countries that are still practising it.I will not like to see government law enforcement on the locals because it might be counter-productive in some ways. Thannks for viewing my opinion.
As I cautiously applaud the banning of this practice, I must register my irritation with the viciousness of the campaign against it by the West. I particularly was vexed by the chosen terminology: Female Genital Mutilation. This was deliberately coined by Western women for effect. This is akin to the term ‘Partial Birth Abortion’ chosen and made popular by abortion opponents in the U.S. African women were then influenced to accept and use FGM where ‘female circumcision’ would have been more genteel and equally effective, in my humble opinion. The word ‘mutilation’ conjures up in one’s mind an act of indiscriminate butchering of someone. This is hardly the case for the most part. Many of our mothers and sisters went through it, and they should not be made to feel ashamed every time the subject comes up. It could also be a source of depression for many, especially if they feel that their failed relationships are a result of this practice. These cultural practices also used to make young girls stay virgin until they were married, a concept that was rendered unimportant through the influence of western societies first in our cities after independence and gradually spread to the other parts of these countries. The question is: which organizations will teach social values and norms to young girls early on to get them ready for their future family and societal responsibilities? Could schools alone do it? Is the concept that it takes a village to raise a child out the window?