Her Culture Bi-Monthy Magazine August/September 2015 | Page 14

I

n 2012, the United Nations adopted a

resolution to ban the traditional practice of
female genital mutilation or cutting, which
involves the partial or total removal of the
external female genitalia for non-medical
reasons. This long-established practice is most
often performed to force young girls to keep
their virginity until marriage, when they are
assumed to be ready to bear children and start
a family. The traditional belief is that if sexual
intercourse is unpleasurable for a female, she
will not be tempted to give up her chastity and
will remain pure until she becomes a wife. Such
a belief reflects the deep-rooted inequality and
sexism women continue to face in many
countries around the world to this day.
Female genital mutilation blatantly violates a
woman’s right to health, safety and freedom
from oppression and discrimination. The cruel
procedure is most often carried out on females
ranging from ages 10 to 15 years old. It can

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cause complications such as severe bleeding,
infections, infertility and risk of death during
childbirth. While FGM procedures are most
often carried out by medical professionals, the
casualty rates for women who undergo the
process are extremely high.
When the United Nations was drafting the
resol ][ۋH[