Sections
DONATE
SUPPORT WWW.JOLLOFNEWS.COM
Account Login
United Nations asked to ban FGM
Saturday, 20 November 2010 01:54
By JollofNews Staff WriterEfforts to stem the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) have taken a forceful twist with calls for an official ban by the United Nations.
An international lobby group has formally demanded that the UN criminalizes the practice. The group is urging discussion of the rather thorny issue at a UN General Assembly and its eventual banning.
The appeal was collectively launched by the international NGO ‘No Peace Without Justice’ (NPWJ), The Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (IAC), the European Network for the Prevention and Eradication of Harmful Traditional Practices (EuroNet FGM) and the Senegalese association "La Palabre", in the framework of a campaign aiming at promoting the adoption by the 65th session of the United Nations General Assembly of a Resolution to ban female genital mutilation worldwide, and by doing so to strengthen this decisive battle for human rights worldwide.
In what is the maiden official appeal by the group, the International Herald Tribune newspaper last Monday published a petition signed by its members comprising distinguished personalities as well as political and civil society activists who come from 42 countries.
In Gambia, despite commendable results demonstrable by anti-FGM activists, pressure from religious leaders coupled with occasional political interference remains a huge stumbling block. Recently, there have been suggestions from some quarters for a UN ban.
Notable key signatories of this petition calling for a UN ban of the practice include first ladies, some of whom come from countries in Africa where effort to stem it is pitching hardnosed societies against activists. They include the first ladies of Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau, Uganda and Benin.
Others notable figures include Nobel laureates Desmond Tutu, Shirin Ebadi, Nadime Gordimer, and Marty Ahtisaari.
“A United Nations General Assembly resolution to ban FGM worldwide would step up and signal the international community’s universal condemnation of this blatant human rights violation, with important implications worldwide. It would serve to strengthen laws that currently ban FGM and provide new impetus for those nations that currently do not have such laws on the books,” stated FGM Program Coordinator of No Peace Without Justice, Alvilda Jablonko.
Jollofnews Poll
Who do you think should be the next President of The Gambia?
Follow us on Twitter
-
McGuinness wants dissident talksDeputy First Minister Martin McGuinness offers to hold talks with dissident republicans, saying their violence...
-
Egypt candidate to seek election suspension: lawyerCAIRO (Reuters) - Leftist candidate Hamdeen Sabahy will file an appeal for Egypt's presidential election...
-
Bristol Rovers Speed Merchant Could Be Racing To Posh(GamSports) – Peterborough United are thought to be one of a number of Championship sides...
Comments
is it the Tourays or that of the Sankarehs down in Timbuktu....lol !
Any way I like the given name Mr. Samory and I will be back to you people since Iam on a trip just stoped at one of the Airports and when I go through JollofNews I came across these wonderful coments but there was no time for me to answer but as soob as I come down I will answer particular my able Brother Badara Saja, because I differed with him on many things he gave here.
So till then, I remain to all of you brothers and sisters, let's keep it burning till we come to knowing the truth.
Your's
Lalo Kebba
Let's give it a try and see!
We should continue to fight in every way possible for the eradication of FGM. We should support those who are trying to encourage people to GIVE UP the practice. No one is using force here, we are talking about trying to enlighten people about the harm it does and allowing their conscience to lead them towards cessation of this practice. It is said: that 'A journey of a thousand miles begins with a first step' and we have taken that step- bringing FGM into the public domain for discourse and debate, and in time the truth shall prevail. So I urge all our Gambian sisters to continue fighting; and to know that there are Gambian Men out there who are in support of their cause.
I hope my humble opinions and suggestions do not inflame anyone. If so, my apologies.
Now, how do we achieve this? It is not going to happen overnight. The call for immediate drastic action is appropriate, however the long term solution in my opinion is to educate our girls/daughters, for in them lies the solution. A woman who is educated, (and I don't mean just going to school), will appreciate the hazards and the maternal instincts will 'kick in' and ensure that she does not condone any act of violence against her children (which includes FGM.
There are certain facts that cannot be disputed-
1. FGM is harmful and detrimental to the general and reproductive health of women
2. FGM is an abuse of the 'right' to sexual pleasure for women. Why should men enjoy sex while women are made not to? Was sex made for men only?
3. It is of NO benefit, in that promiscuity is not reduced in circumcised versus uncircumcised women. (A proxy- Teenage pregnancy rates and Sexually transmitted infection rates are not diff in circumcised girls when compared to their uncircumcised counterparts), so circumcising girls does not make them 'less promiscuous' and hey..it can be argued, what about the men? Any interventions to keep ours 'zipped'?
So, in light of the aforementioned 'facts', I ask the rhetorical question: 'What is the justification for the continuing the practice?'
I told you guys earlier on, this act does not originate from Islam or prophets, and is uncommon in their birth places. This is practiced in Africa where Islam or God religions from the Middle East never put foot in and that just a clue that it’s not from Islam. You should also understand Islam well and the world in general to filter Islam that is humane and just for the sake of society. Islam is brought to you and my grandfathers without them understanding that there many more faction that preaches it differently or interpret to distinguished them from other factions in that era. This is why after Muhammed (PBOH) prophet death, war emerged to control the political movement and every group have a narrator of what the prophet said or did to fit there faction/culture or Caliph ( (SAHABAS)just like Shias,Sunnis,su fi etc..
RSS feed for comments to this post.