Egypt rights groups warn of decriminalization of FGM

[DJKeefy]

A number of Egyptian medical associations and human rights organizations issued a joint statement on Monday condemning reports on the mobile medical convoy for circumcision of girls in Minya governorate, organized by the Muslim Brotherhood`s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP).



They expressed their shock from the attempts to tamper with guarantees of the “bodily rights ensured by the Egyptian law for children through an amendment to the law for decriminalization of female genital mutilation, which coincided with the statement by some political movements,” which was described by the statement as “backward” on the law, and would “encourage and allow people of villages in Minya governorate to undergo female genital mutilation, as it is psychological and physical and sexual violence against girls.”

The statement called for the need to respect the Declaration of Human Rights and the conventions of children’s rights and “stop discrimination against women, and mainstreaming the right to bodily integrity and to stop violence and sexual violence against Egyptian girls, and to consider the human rights conventions and agreements binding and a source of legislation which cannot be ignored,” as well as considering the practice of female genital mutilation “a crime of deliberate congenital deformation as it meets all forms of violence against girls, which should be punishable by law, and cannot be condoned.”

The statement stressed that the practice of female genital mutilation is “a non-scientific practice” and is not taught in medical science, and causes “psychological and physical and sexual damage for young girls,” explaining that it was “subjected to jurisdiction by Al-Azhar, when discussing the children’s law, so does not need to re-discuss what by has been the consensus of specialists in this regard.”

The signatories of the statement stressed they will continue their efforts in tracking down those who violate children laws and anyone who commits “deliberate genital deformation, for girls, with tracking outlaws through all legal means and resort to the judiciary and the punishment prescribed by law, with the continued efforts of communication and community dialogue with the masses of male and female citizens to confirm the rejection of these harmful habits and prejudice the safety of the body, rejecting any attempt to resist the continuing diminution of any rights, including children right to dignity.”

Source: http://bikyamasr.com/68862/egypt-rights ... on-of-fgm/

[Horus]

Barbaric! Arab what? if this is a taste of the future politics if the MB gains power then god help the women of Egypt.
The only saving grace is that one assumes that it would be done in more sanitary conditions than it is now. A bit like saying we will stone you to death in a hospital as its cleaner!

[LovelyLadyLux]

I think this practice is totally abhorrent. IF it must continue then I pray it MUST happen in a sanitized medical facility under anesthesea performed by a licenced medical practitioner who has skills in surgery who will not cause pain, deformation or psychological trauma. I don't see how this can be achieved so personally I'd like to see this entire practice banned 100% forever.

[Horus]

Of course it should be banned, it has no place in any culture and just masquerades as being a religious or cultural practice in some countries. The bottom line is it is child abuse, they may try to dress it up as much as they like, but it is done for the physical or mental gratification of men and has no other practical reason. We often hear on these sites that it is really the women who support this and are responsible for its continuation, I would say that may be the case where the woman is part of a family structure that is dominated by men and have to play their subservient roll within the family, they are merely serving the men’s interests because they themselves know no better or fear doing otherwise. It begs the question of what kind of mother could stand by and watch, or be involved in the physical mutilation of her own child, especially when she knows the purpose behind this mutilation is purely for the sexual gratification of a man or to allay his fears that his wife cannot control her desires and must be castrated like an ally She cat.

[Ruby Slippers]

. It begs the question of what kind of mother could stand by and watch, or be involved in the physical mutilation of her own child, especially when she knows the purpose behind this mutilation is purely for the sexual gratification of a man or to allay his fears that his wife cannot control her desires and must be castrated like an ally She cat.

I agree with you 100%, Horus! I have a 3 year old grand-daughter and I would kill anyone who hurt her so I simply cannot understand the mind-set of the mothers and grandmothers who allow this to happen in the name of tradition! They have had it done to them and they also know just how painful it is so why the hell would you inflict this on someone you love?

[Horus]

My thoughts exactly! it is barbaric and has no place in any civilised society.

[LovelyLadyLux]

I think it is a moot point as to whether this is a tradition carried on by the men or women. It has to be raised to social awareness of both men and women so that combined they can stop this practice - however - until the rights of women advance am not sure this issue is going to move forward.

I concur it IS a disgrace. Words do not suffice - shame and disgrace.....

[Jayway]

Yes, but interbred primitives cannot be changed. Brainwashed - dont you just LOVE religions -

[Horus]

On the religious front I have to agree with you Jay, the amount of evil practices, wars and excuse the pun, God knows what else can be laid at the door of those that wish to impose their beliefs upon others in one way or another.

[LovelyLadyLux]

On customs like these and when there is no education or wordly social enlightenment brought into the villages I'm highly doubtful that change will ever come into play. I'm not sure there is even a querying by the folks who are doing this as to 'why' and i doubt that these folks on their own would ever query this 'practice.' Don't even want to give it the creedance of a 'tradition' as personally I think traditions have value. I see this as a practice carried out by unenlightened, uneducated, backwards people who are just told to "do it" without any further thinking involved.

[Jayway]

just a snippet from 2 years ago - "investigation of Dr. Poppas, Cornell University- USA'a very own mutilator and vibrator user" - never did find out what happened to him - - -