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Abstract
Female genital cutting: expression of sexuality or human rights violation – depends on who does it, where it is done and why it is done - a case for a review of current legislations, interventions and advocacy on female genital cutting
E. Effiong1, M. Villanueva1, T. Pakrashi1, J. Lineberry2, E. Aye-Henshaw3
Issues:
Female genital cutting (FGC) is seen as a violation of the rights of women; Female Genital Piercing and Female Genital Enhancement Surgery achieve the same results, only one is done more in developing countries while others are done more in developed nations. Female Genital Enhancement Surgeries and Female Genital Piercing, which also fall within the WHO definition for FGC are considered sophisticated and means of enhancing sexual enjoyment.
Description:
The study involved literature search and review from fact sheets, journals, organizational reports, internet websites and publications. A theoretical model was developed to understand the persistence of the practice. International instruments and public health tenets were examined to understand the legitimacy of current legislations, interventions and advocacy on the issue in relations to other health issues with similar risk
Lessons learned:
• Legislations, Interventions and Advocacy on FGC are based on case studies, which questions their legitimacy.
• Public Health tenets of Harm Minimization and impact Mitigation, which are applied to issues like Abortion and Drug Abuse which have similar impact on health risks, are not applied on the issue of FGC.
• Female Genital Enhancement Surgeries and Female Genital Piercing which achieve the same results as FGC are legal and accessible in developed countries, while FGC is illegal.
Recommendations:
• Expansion in the definition and documentation about FGC to include Female Genital Enhancement Surgery and Female Genital Piercing.
• Developing interventions to address the reasons for the practice of FGC ranging from infant mortality, rape to traditional coming of age.
• Medicalization of the practice to reduce the health impact.
• Exploration of choice and rights as related to FGC, and individualistic and communal rights as practiced in western and other societies.
• An examination of the definition of choice, in a situation where peer influence and peer culture exists.
AIDS 2006 - XVI International AIDS Conference
Abstract no.
CDE0287
Suggested Citation
"E.Effiong, et al.
Female genital cutting: expression of sexuality or human rights violation – depends on who does it, where it is done and why it is done - a case for a review of current legislations, interventions and advocacy on female genital cutting.
:
AIDS 2006 - XVI International AIDS Conference:
Abstract no.
CDE0287"
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