Female Genital Mutilation: A Gross Violation of Human Rights Essay

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) has often been viewed as a rite of passage for women in various countries within Africa, South America, the Middle East and Asia. However, due to societal norms and pressures, whether it based in culture or religion, forces women to partake in a practice that has serious health risks and takes away the rights of women who believe they have no other choice. The Universal Declaration of Human rights are applicable to all member states including most of the countries that still practice FGM. However, despite claiming that the human rights set forth would be observed as obligated in terms of their memberships, FGM violates numerous rights and freedoms that claim to be recognized but, are not known to the people. These rights are neglected, and frequently go unacknowledged within communities because of denied access to media or information. Nonetheless whether it is intentional or a direct result of the poverty levels within these countries these are rights that the people deserve to know they have. If women were exposed to various forms of media and knew of their rights, FGM would not be so highly practiced. Female Genital Mutilation is a flagrant violation of one’s human rights. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is also known as female circumcision. There is this passivity and social acceptance that implied when using female circumcision versus FGM because, circumcision of males in western cultures is a norm and therefore, not viewed as a violation of one’s rights. However, if female genital cutting is referred to as female circumcision then it equating the severity of FGM with that of a male which is not the case. FGM is more harmful to the health of the woman at question and in no means beneficial to... ... Study Using Female Genital Mutilation†. Health and Human Rights. The President and Fellows of Harvard College. Vol. 2, No. 2 (1997), pp. 137-146. Web. Dorkenoo, Efua. â€Å"Combating Female Genital Mutilation: An Agenda for the Next Decade†. Women's Studies Quarterly, Vol. 27, No. 1/2, Teaching About Violence Against Women, The Feminist Press at the City University of New York (Spring - Summer, 1999), pp. 87-97. Web R. Beitz, Charles. â€Å"Human Rights as a Common Concern†. The American Political Science Review, American Political Science Association, Vol. 95, No. 2 (Jun., 2001), pp. 269-282. Web N. Davis, Aisha. â€Å"Female Genital Cutting: The Pressures of Culture, International Attention, and Domestic Law on the Role of African Women†. Gender and Sexuality Law Online. Columbia Law School. 25 January 2012. Web. http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml#a3