Female genital 'nicks' should be legal as FGM compromise

[Robby999 1,024]

LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Countries that have banned female genital mutilation (FGM) should allow less invasive practices such as small surgical nicks to girls' genitalia as a compromise, two American gynecologists said on Monday.

But campaigners against FGM strongly criticized the proposal, saying it would undermine global efforts to eradicate the internationally condemned ritual.

At least 200 million girls and women have been subjected to FGM in over 30 countries, according to U.N. estimates.

The ancient practice usually involves the partial or total removal of a girl's external genitalia. In some cases the vaginal opening is also sewn up.

But some communities practice less invasive rituals such as pricking or nicking the #######.

The U.S. gynecologists, writing in the Journal of Medical Ethics, argued that permitting more minimal procedures could allow families to uphold cultural and religious traditions while protecting girls from more dangerous forms of cutting.

Communities which support FGM often consider it a prerequisite for marriage. Many also see it as a religious obligation although it is not mentioned in the Koran or Bible.

But FGM can cause a host of physical and psychological problems.

Gynecologists Kavita Shah Arora and Allan Jacobs said procedures that slightly changed the look of a girl's genitalia without damaging them were comparable to male circumcision or cosmetic procedures in Western countries like labiaplasty.

Laws against mild modifications were "culturally insensitive and supremacist and discriminatory towards women", they wrote in the specialist journal, which is published by the British Medical Journal.

"BEHIND THE TIMES"

FGM is practiced in a swathe of African countries, pockets of Asia and the Middle East, as well as by diaspora communities living in the West.

The gynecologists suggested that global attempts to stamp out FGM with legislation had failed and may by driving the practice underground.

"We are not arguing that any procedure on the female genitalia is desirable," they said. "Rather, we only argue that certain procedures ought to be tolerated by liberal societies."

They said the term "female genital mutilation" should be replaced with the less emotive "female genital alteration" (FGA) to avoid "demonizing important cultural practices".

But experts on medical ethics, commenting on the proposal, said procedures to modify girls' genitals could not be compared to male circumcision because they are designed to control women and curb their sexual desire.

They also predicted that legalizing more minimal procedures would generate a litany of legal, regulatory and medical problems.

Global campaigners against FGM said doctors should challenge harmful social norms, not condone them.

"Any form of FGM is a violation of a child's rights," said Adwoa Kwateng-Kluvitse, head of global advocacy at the charity FORWARD which campaigns against FGM in Africa and Europe.

"Why would you put a little girl through that? There should be no medicalization of FGM. They (the gynecologists) are completely behind the times.

"This is very different to male circumcision. With male circumcision there is no intention to attenuate sexual desire, control sexuality or enforce chastity."

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2016/02/23/female-genital-nicks-should-be-legal-as-fgm-compromise-2-gynecologists-say.html?intcmp=ob_article_footer_text&intcmp=obnetwork

[Janelle2002 3,865]

They never said exactly what they deemed acceptable as an alternative practice. What do they mean by "nicking?"

[Robby999 1,024]

I read the bio listed here in this article and it appears to me that this doctor is more concerned about the child's rights and is looking for a balance between culture,traditions,medical safety, and family views that still allow some level of independence in deciding about circumcision/FGM/nicking for the child later in life.

http://sb.cc.stonybrook.edu/happenings/facultystaff/dr-allan-jacobs-discusses-ritual-circumcision-and-human-rights/

[Boiler 46,246]

Sounds racist.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

I read the bio listed here in this article and it appears to me that this doctor is more concerned about the child's rights and is looking for a balance between culture,traditions,medical safety, and family views that still allow some level of independence in deciding about circumcision/FGM/nicking for the child later in life.

http://sb.cc.stonybrook.edu/happenings/facultystaff/dr-allan-jacobs-discusses-ritual-circumcision-and-human-rights/

Yes, there should be a balance. The solution is unclear to me however. They don't want the girls completely shunned by their culture. How do you "nick" the female parts? Because the whole point of the FGM is to take away sensation so the women will not want the urge. Have they found a way to "nick" and take away sensation without removing the whole part? Copy and paste the answer. I don't see it. Too much to read and I'm trying to play Diablo III

[Boiler 46,246]

Makes you wonder if this subject is family friendly?

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Makes you wonder if this subject is family friendly?

It involves families.

Why post on the subject if you don't like it?

[Boiler 46,246]

Hmm, well I post on many threads I do not like, but I was thinking more of the VJ definition, not mine.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Hmm, well I post on many threads I do not like, but I was thinking more of the VJ definition, not mine.

I understand

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

Makes you wonder if this subject is family friendly?

I was about to say

[Expat1 971]

Sounds racist.

Ominous. That might be where "picnic" originated

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

Ominous. That might be where "picnic" originated

Picnic=problem in chair not in computer

When I was an IT guy we used that to make fun of users

[Ban Hammer 13,641]

Picnic=problem in chair not in computer

When I was an IT guy we used that to make fun of users

now it's pebcak.

[Darnell 8,479]

Sounds racist.

eh - especially for the Diaspora Communities. Whats to happen when an inter-racial marriage occurs? Maybe that's the only way to stop it - marry outside yer race when yer not in Africa.

Too much to read and I'm trying to play Diablo III

Hey ! Don't meet the next fella on the net ! Diablo III? Sheesh !

[ExPatty 502]

There is already a balanced compromise: if you want to mutilate your daughters' genitals, please stay at whatever backwater country you're from. Nobody in the West wants to hear about it or tolerate it, period.