Female Genital Mutilation Is a Violation of the Rights of the Girl Child

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Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) has had different definitions in the ‘Scientific World’ and the world of those who embrace the act. According to the definition of the World Health Organization (WHO), Female Genital Mutilation is the act of removing the external parts of the female genitalia, partially or totally for non-medical reasons (WHO) whereas the practitioners see it as the cutting of “extra skin tags” of the female’s reproductive organ. Various reasons have been put forward to support it, ranging from social, cultural and religious reasons, mainly in the so called Islamic communities. FGM is a violation of the rights of the girl child, causes health implications and drastically disempowers the sexuality of women. According to the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of the Child, “state parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that the child is protected against all forms of discrimination or punishment on the basis of the status, activities, expressed opinions, or beliefs of the child’s parents, legal guardians, or family members”(1). It is generally believed that the fundamental rights of every human being should be respected; but unfortunately that’s not the case with FGM. Children are made to past this ordeal at an early age. A child as young as 10 years or even younger is subjected to this inhuman act without seeking her consent or most times telling flimsy stories to subdue her infant mind. On the other hand, the perpetrators believe that the child is too young to decide and being parents automatically places them in the rightful position to decide her faith. Contrary to that notion, is the provision in article three (3) of the same UN convention which states that “[i]n all actions concerning the ch... ... middle of paper ... ...r. 2011. Condé, H. Victor. A Handbook on International Human Rights Terminology Human Rights in International Perspective; V. 8 Lincoln University of Nebraska Press, 2004. Little, Cindy M. "FEMALE GENITAL CIRCUMCISION: MEDICAL AND CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS." Journal of Cultural Diversity 10.1 (2003): 30-34. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 18 Apr. 2011. Utz-Billing, I., and H. Kentenich. "Female genital mutilation: an injury, physical and mental harm." Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology 29.4 (2008): 225-229. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. Yu-Yun Alice Hsu, et al. "A Theoretical Model of Early Teen Sexual Behavior: What Research Tells Us about Mother's Influence on the Sexual Behavior of Early Adolescent Girls." Journal of Theory Construction & Testing 7.2 (2003): 56-60. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 18 Apr. 2011.

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