Female Genital Mutilation in North America & Europe

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Summary:

Female Genital Mutilation is an invasive procedure that is usually performed on girls before puberty. It is occasionally performed within Aboriginal, Christian and Muslim families who have emigrated to North America or Europe from some predominately Muslim countries where it is practiced as a social tradition. It is also done at birth to some "inter-sex" infants in Europe for what are seen by some as justified for medical or psychological reasons.

Female Genital Mutilation among immigrants:

This operation is occasionally performed on children of immigrants from some Muslim countries of the Middle East, Africa, Indonesia and other Muslim countries in Asia. It is seen by some of its supporters as a religious duty, social custom, and/or a necessary operation for health reasons. It is criticized by those in opposition as a cruel mutilation of a young girl in order to reduce her sexual response after puberty.

In the West, the procedure is outlawed in

"Australia (six states), Burkina Faso, Canada, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Ghana, Guinea, New Zealand, Nigeria (3 states), Norway, Senegal, Sweden, Tanzania, Togo, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Legislation against FGM can be counter-productive in some cases. It might force the practice deeply underground. Women may not seek medical care later in life because their parents might be charged. The operation can be life threatening if performed by untrained individuals; if the operation is botched, the parents may be reluctant to take the child to a hospital out of fear of being criminally charged with child abuse. On the other hand, it does indicate that the government has taken a stand against FGM. This, and potential penalties, may well cause some parents to decide against having their daughter(s) mutilated.

FGM has also been criminalized at the state level in California, Minnesota, North Dakota, Rhode Island, and Tennessee, and other states. At least one FGM assistance, education and support group is operating in the U.S. among immigrants from countries that practice FGM. ₁

Specialists in Denver, CO, reported in 1998 that at least  6,000 immigrants have settled in the area from African countries which widely practice FGM. ₂  Dr. Terry Dunn, director of a women’s clinic in that city commented: "I know of one patient where it was clear it was performed in this country." About 4 FGM cases are seen each year at the clinic.

"In Norway, where this brutal act is also prevalent, a young Somali woman was recently beaten, almost to death, for talking to TV documentary programme-makers." ₆

Immigration lawyers:

Sacks & Kolken is law firm that has won a number of FGM-related asylum cases. Their website is at:  http://www.sackskolken.com/ 

References:

1. M. Ramsey, "Forward USA/Ethiopia: Assistance, education and support for women and girls affected by female genital mutilation." This group has disappeared from the Internet and may no longer exist. For support questions in the U.S. you might try contacting:

   African Women's Health Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, at: http://www.brighamandwomens.org/ This is the first and only African health practice in the United State that focuses FGM. Research, Action and Information Network for the Bodily Integrity of Women (RAINBO)) at: http://www.rainbo.org/ The National Women's Health Information Center, at: http://www.4woman.gov/ See also our list of books and Internet resources on FGM

2. Associated Press article, 1998-FEB-16, quoted in the Feminist Majority Foundation's web site at: http://feminist.org/
3. Text of the "Federal Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act of 1995" is online at: http://www.fgmnetwork.org/
4. "Legislation on Female Genital Mutilation in the United States," Center for Reproductive Rights, at: http://www.reproductiverights.org/ This is a PDF file. You may require software to read it. Software can be obtained free from: 
5. Megan Costello, "Two in U.S. Accused of Genital Mutilation," Womensenews, 2004-FEB-19, at: http://www.womensenews.org/
6. Jo-Ann Goodwin & David Jones, "How the unspeakable practice of female circumcision is destroying young women's lives in 21st century Britain," Daily Mail, 2007-JAN-03, at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/
7. "FGM Joint Statement, WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA, (1997, Page 4)

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