Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting
a.k.a. (FGM/C) in North America & Europe

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 North America an 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 predominately Muslim countries of the Middle East, Africa, Indonesia and other Muslim countries in Asia. Although it is often viewed as a Muslim practice, it is practiced by people of all religions in those counries where it is common. 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 with having committed a crime. 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.

"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 used:

The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.

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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Copyright © 1998 to 2017 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Originally published: 1998-MAR-16
Last updated on 2017-JUL-25
Author: Bruce A Robinson

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