Earthcharter

International Day Against Female Genital Mutilation calls for increased cooperation to end the practice

Monday, 08 February 2010 19:15

Between 100 million and 140 million women and girls have undergone female genital cutting (FGC) and the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA) says at least 3 million more women and girls are at risk every year. In an effort to put an end to the practice, which is an abuse of the basic rights of women and girls, and has severe health repercussions, leaving physical and psychological scars, UNFPA declared February 6th International Day Against Female Genital Mutilation.

The global network and social justice movement of Islamic women, the Women's Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality (WISE), has embraced the day of solidarity. In describing their efforts to end FMC, WISE details the origin and false conceptions of FGC which are often misrepresented to defend the practice:

FGC is an ancient norm that was practiced long before the birth of Islam in the 7th century. In Egypt it is practiced by Christians as well as Muslims. Although FGC is often believed to be an Islamic practice, it has been overwhelmingly condemned by Islamic scholars, denounced in fatwas (opinions of Islamic law), and rendered illegal by governmental statutes.

Despite the fact that the Qur'an makes no reference to female genital cutting and that the Prophet said: "Take care of your daughters and don't hurt them," the practice continues today and has unfortunately been inaccurately recognized as a religious tradition within some parts of the Muslim world.

For the U.N.-sponsored International Day Against Female Genital Mutilation UNFPA called for “stronger government commitment to fund and implement programmes to prevent female genital mutilation or cutting.” In order to achieve a reduction in the practice of FGC UNFPA reiterated that “laws need to be enforced, people need to be educated, and communities must be engaged.” In doing so, they reinforced the understanding that it will take community support from within for the social change to be successful.