Ban on Female Genital Mutilation

Eritrea (a country in norther East Africa - Sudan in the West, Ethiopia in the south and Djibouti in the southeast) has put a ban on female genital mutilation (a/k/a female circumcision) . That�s the best news I�ve heard this year. Any promoter or practitioner of FGM is now subject to a fine or imprisonment of up to 10 years. The new generation of women from Eritrea will not have to face genital mutilation anymore. Here�s the website.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070405/wl_nm/eritrea_circumcision_dc_3

Originally posted by morticia Eritrea (a country in norther East Africa - Sudan in the West, Ethiopia in the south and Djibouti in the southeast) has put a ban on female genital mutilation (a/k/a female circumcision) . That�s the best news I�ve heard this year. Any promoter or practitioner of FGM is now subject to a fine or imprisonment of up to 10 years. The new generation of women from Eritrea will not have to face genital mutilation anymore. Here�s the website. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070405/wl_nm/eritrea_circumcision_dc_3

Originally posted by morticia The new generation of women from Eritrea will not have to face genital mutilation anymore.

Well, I am no fan of plastic surgery, but a ban is going a bit far... Some women do have actual physical discomfort due to genealogical anatomy... And to be as flat as a boy is no-ones dream.

Edited by Aelfgifu - 04-May-2007 at 10:04

Originally posted by Aelfgifu Well, I am no fan of plastic surgery, but a ban is going a bit far... Some women do have actual physical discomfort due to genealogical anatomy... And to be as flat as a boy is no-ones dream.

You could say the same about FGM.  Why not let the individual women choose?  I think the pressures and bad consequences are comparable.. except more extreme and universal in the case of FGM of course...

True, all that is bad. But, if I may be a bit graphical on this, I know a girl who had her genitals fixed because it hurt for her to sit down, let alone ride a bike (which was agony). In the Netherlands, not being able to ride a bike is a very big social hindrance...    

Edited by Aelfgifu - 04-May-2007 at 12:03

Here are just a few of the medical consequences from female genital mutilation:

"Immediate complications include severe pain, shock, haemorrhage, urine retention, ulceration of the genital region and injury to adjacent tissue. Haemorrhage and infection can cause death.

More recently, concern has arisen about possible transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) due to the use of one instrument in multiple operations, but this has not been the subject of detailed research.

Long-term consequences include cysts and abscesses, keloid scar formation, damage to the urethra resulting in urinary incontinence, dyspareunia (painful sexual intercourse) and sexual dysfunction and difficulties with childbirth.

Psychosexual and psychological health: Genital mutilation may leave a lasting mark on the life and mind of the woman who has undergone it. In the longer term, women may suffer feelings of incompleteness, anxiety and depression."

It's definitely a plus for women to place a ban on this barbaric ritual.

Source: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en/

Very positive ,especially because it is one of the few good news coming from Africa.

I agree with that Dan.

Brest Implants and such like only have one positive aspect, they lower the cost of plastic surgery for people who need it due to medical problems. Social Security paid by the vein.

Dan, FGM is totally different from plastic surgery for one reason.