About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

17 J.L. Pol'y & Globalization 1 (2013)

handle is hein.journals/jawpglob17 and id is 1 raw text is: Journal of Law, Policy and Globalization wwwxiiste og ISSN 2224-3240 (Paper) ISSN 2224-3259 (Online) Vol.17, 2013 Female Genital Mutilation in Ethiopia: Health and Human Right Issue Solomon Masho Atomsa' and M.V.R. Raju2 I.Lecturer at Ambo University, Ethiopia and Research Scholar at Andhra University, India Email: - solomonmasho @ gmail.com or atomsa91 @ yahoo.com 2.Professor at Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, India Email: - mraju14@rediffmail.com Abstract Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a traditional practice performed in different parts of the world, although the type and its prevalence may be different, affecting the wellbeing of millions of women and children. As tradition is interwoven into the identity of a given community, ending any traditional practice is possible only when the practicing community really understands the need for change and be committed for the same. The objective of this article was to assess the knowledge level of people in Gindeberet District of Oromia Regional State (Ethiopia) regarding the negative health effects of FGM on women and children and also its being violation of their human right. The study also aimed at identifying risk factors associated with the practice of FGM in the study area. Differences in level of awareness based on educational level and personal accounts of females who were subjected to FGM were also examined. Sample for the study included 148 residents of four villages of Gindeberet district, 208 grade 12 students and community opinion leaders of the selected villages. The study shows that (76.96%) and (65.74%) of the participants were aware that FGM affects the health of women and violates their human rights respectively. Educational level is found to be associated with awareness about the fact that FGM affects the health of women and children and violates their human rights. In the study area, single instrument is used on multiple girls for mutilation and the material used to do the procedure is not properly sterilized, hence increasing the chance of the victims to contract infectious diseases including HIV/AIDS. Great majority of female participants who were subjected to the practice indicated that they have negative feelings associated with the procedure. Key words: - Female Genital Mutilation, Traditional practice, Human right, Health, Ethiopia Introduction Female genital mutilation is a traditional practice that involves cutting or altering the female genitalia as a rite of passage or for other socio-cultural reasons (Population Reference Bureau, 2001). Female genital cutting refers to practices that involve the surgical manipulation of the female genitalia (Kathryn and Bisrat, 2007). According to Rahman and Toubia (2000), FGM constitutes all procedures, which involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs whether for cultural or other non- therapeutic reasons. There are different forms of FGM practiced in different cultures and Population Reference Bureau (2001) indicated that in 1995, the World Health Organization classified FGM into four broad categories/types: Type I- Clitoridectomy- is a type of FGM that involves partial or total removal of the clitoris and/or the prepuce Type II- Excision- this category of FGM refers to the procedure of removing the clitoris together with all or part of the labia minora. Type III - Infibulation- is the removal of part or all of the external female genitalia (clitoris, labia minora and labia majora) and stitching and narrowing of the vaginal opening, leaving a small hole for urine and menstrual flow. Type IV- Unclassified- the unclassified category of FGM includes all harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, for example: pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterization. * Piercing, pricking or incision involves making small holes into the clitoris and/or labia of girls with sharp pointed object. * Scraping is the scratching of the vaginal orifice by a rough surface to cause bleeding * Cauterization is the act of burning the clitoris and surrounding tissues by heated instruments Three different terminologies are commonly used to describe the procedures performed on female genitalia. These are: Female Circumcision, Female Genital Cutting (FGC) and Female Genital Mutilation. Authors who prefer the term female genital cutting to the two terminologies argue that female circumcision minimizes the severity of the surgery and female genital mutilation is viewed as judgmental and pejorative. It means that the two are extremes and female genital cutting is sort of average one. They also contend that female genital cutting is a more neutral term describing what takes place. Whatever form it takes and whatever name is given to the non therapeutic procedure performed on the female

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Purchase Access

Contact us for annual subscription options:

Contact Us

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most