Female circumcision is finally banned

Apr 10, 2007

Eritrea, one of the Northern African countries has finally outlawed a dangerous and barbarous practice of female circumcision. Anyone taking part in female circumcision will be facing fine and imprisonment, Eritrea information Ministry announced.

The prohibition of female genital mutilation(FGM) has become a long-waited result of the campaign run against this life-threatening procedure. Eritrea is one of those African countries where female circumcision is wide spread practice with more than 90 percent of women who undergo this painful procedure each year.

WHO (World Health Organization) claims that at least 28 of Africa and Middle East countries encourage female circumcision resulting in more than 3 million girls under age 10 being circumcised.

Besides the fact that female circumcision is extremely painful procedure and leads to psychological trauma, it may seriously damage female reproductive health leading to such consequences as infections, excessive bleeding and put woman's life at danger. The risk becomes even higher as in most cases, the surgery is conducted in inappropriate conditions often with unsterilized tools.

Nowadays, there are three types of female genital mutilation practices: excision, sunna and infibulation.

Sunna

Some specialists consider sunna procedure quite harmless. During the procedure, the clitoral hood is removed so that clitoris is exposed. Last years this practice become popular in some European countries, though conducted under anesthesia unlike in African countries.

Excision

Excision is a procedure of cutting the clitoris and labia minor to deprive woman of achieving any sexual pleasure. Due to various religious believes excision is made to assure chastity and prevent promiscuity. This operation will not restrict a woman to experience sexual desire, but makes it impossible to satisfy her sexual needs. In several countries, like Somalia and Sudan , excision is said to be an effective measure against female prostitution. Nevertheless, 17 out of 20 Sudan prostitutes are known to be circumcised.

Infibulation

Infibulation or also referred to as pharonic circumcision is basically removal of all the external genitals with the further stitching of the labia major leaving a small hole opt for menstrual bleeding. A doctor who performs infibulation can decide on the size of the hole, very often disabling for a male penis to penetrate. After a surgery, a girl should spent around a month with her legs tied up in order for the wound to heal. During a childbirth, woman needs to have this small entrance cut.

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I cant get over the fact that people would still be doing such a thing in the year 2007. I'm always willing to be respectful of others religions or cultures but this has got to stop for both men in all countries and women alike.

there is a lot of controversy on the benefits and drawbacks of male circumcision. some say that it reduces the risks of getting HIV and others are warned at prostate cancer. i think that any of these interventions (female or male circumcision) are risky and are not to be practiced

You really think they'll ever ban male genital mutilation? The day I see a center for prostate cancer research as popular as the center for breast cancer, will be what convinces me that male circumcision might be banned one day.

one gender's genital mutilation outlawed one to go good job so far.

i am glad to be a man :)

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