End FGM

A young 17 year old has lost her life due to excessive bleeding during an illegal female circumcision in Egypt. While Egypt has made female circumcision illegal way back in 2007, such practices continue illegally even today. Female circumcision is a cultural practice in Africa and some parts of Asia to ensure fidelity of a woman. In some parts it is mandatory before marriage. This cultural practice has forced itself into religion in African countries and is now treated as a religious practice. Female genital mutilation is not a religious practice and has no benefit to any person. It is a tribal practice to keep women under male dominance. Along with the breast pressing practices of Africa, it comes as a false way of dominating a woman and restricting her choices. Female genital mutilation prevents a woman from leading her life to her full potential, adding pain, suffering and increased chances of infections. Though a number of women and activists are coming forward against such barbaric practice, the instant case clearly shows that the law against it is ineffective and it requires greater efforts in preventing it. Even though the particular hospital has been closed, it makes apparent the fact that there might be many other hospitals during illegal procedures. There is a need for greater scrutiny of hospitals and healthcare professionals, of educating young women about their rights and of easy access to law enforcement agencies for preventing such activities. Female genital mutilation is an evil that needs to be curbed by a combined domestic as well as international effort.