blog 2 FGM: Kenya acts against unkindest cut

A breakthrough was made in Kenya by making the practice of female genital mutilation illegal. Not only does this law make the procedure of FGM against the law, but it also protects women by fining or jailing people who make degrading statements to women who have not undergone the procedure. Zeinab Ahmed, Unicef's child protection specialist in Kenya said, “ FGM is a serious violation of the rights of the child and of women. This bill gives an indication from government that it is not just a cultural practice that can go on.” Even though FGM has been made illegal in Kenya, there are still countries that practice the procedure. In countries where FGM is legal, about 85% of women subject to FGM. It is important to try and make FGM illegal worldwide because it is inhumane and violates the freedoms that women should have.

In many countries female genital mutilation is a common practice among the culture. FGM presents an issue to women because it conflicts with the basic rights such as “health, security and physical integrity, right to be free from degrading treatment, and right to life when the procedure results in death” (WHO). FGM is a continuing practice because many culture believe that it is the right of passage of becoming a women but also to refrain women in engaging in pre-martial sex. This presents the issue of discrimination among the women in these countries because it puts limitations on how they express their rights as humans. When women undergo FGM, there are being controlled by having to oblige to what role that culture wants women to play in society, impeding on their rights to choose for themselves.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/sarah-boseley-global-health/2011/sep/08/women-africa

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en/