Submitted by crinadmin on
Summary: Zed's Summary of the publication
This is the most extensive report on
the prevalence of female
circumcision/female genital mutilation
(FC/FGM) currently available. The
result of a major research report in
40
countries, both North and South, it
covers not only the prevalence of
FC/FGM but the various laws and
other
measures in place to prevent
Zed's Summary of the publication
This is the most extensive report on the prevalence of female
circumcision/female genital mutilation
(FC/FGM) currently available. The result of a major research
report
in 40 countries, both North and South, it
covers not only the prevalence of FC/FGM but the various laws
and
other measures in place to prevent it.
The book opens with a description of FC/FGM; each of the country
studies begins with basic country data,
and goes on to describe that country's constitution, law
enforcement,
specific anti-FC/FGM laws, any other
state steps towards eradication and NGO campaigns. Each
chapter also
lists actual prosecutions. The
book shows that, in spite of an extensive and growing African
movement to combat FC/FGM, its prevalence
is still very high indeed.
It is primarily (although by no means exclusively) the countries of
the North which have the most legislation
against the practice of FC/FGM - clearly directed only at immigrant
populations - a fact which throws up
one of the classic dilemmas of human rights work: should one
fight
for rights seen as universal and
fundamental - in this case the bodily integrity of women -
overriding
the cultural or religious beliefs of
minority groups?
Finding a solution to this problem is the second aim of this book.
The authors suggest an answer through
the actual implementation of human rights treaties, treaties
which
the vast majority of countries have signed
up to. They examine these treaties in detail and then look at how
FC/FGM violates these rights for women.
They conclude with recommendations for action by governments,
the
international community, and
non-governmental organisations. Owner: Nahid Toubia