One of the most important elements of international human rights law is that the State has responsibility for upholding those rights. However, it is not left to the state alone; individuals have a huge role to play because the problem is a complex one that is pervasive and upheld by individual practitioners. Thus some education about FGM and its practice is important. From the perspective of human rights adjudication and the establishment of fundamental precepts, therefore, the work has been done. But implementation is lacking.
Failure to agree to undergo FGM may alienate a girl from society. One has to imagine what is it like in real life and what is going on in countries where female genital mutilation is still practiced. If women do not conform to the traditional, social and cultural norms that exist in these countries, they risk becoming social outcasts.
For women who reject the practice, in some countries it is virtually impossible to get married since women depend on men almost entirely to be their protectors and providers. If one considers land rights and education rights or the whole range of socio- economic rights which are associated with the status of women in society, one realizes that in order to enjoy any of those rights women have to submit to this procedure, which is tantamount to torture. So what should the State do? Many States have passed legislation prohibiting female genital mutilation, but what about enforcement? We are still a long way from achieving active implementation. If women live in a society that forces them to undergo this procedure in order to exist in society, then we have a situation of discrimination compounded by further discrimination. We should all become actors creating conversations, speaking up against this practice and pushing for better policy enforcement against the violation of the rights of women, because their happiness is consequential to global peace.
Failure to agree to undergo FGM may alienate a girl from society. One has to imagine what is it like in real life and what is going on in countries where female genital mutilation is still practiced. If women do not conform to the traditional, social and cultural norms that exist in these countries, they risk becoming social outcasts.
For women who reject the practice, in some countries it is virtually impossible to get married since women depend on men almost entirely to be their protectors and providers. If one considers land rights and education rights or the whole range of socio- economic rights which are associated with the status of women in society, one realizes that in order to enjoy any of those rights women have to submit to this procedure, which is tantamount to torture. So what should the State do? Many States have passed legislation prohibiting female genital mutilation, but what about enforcement? We are still a long way from achieving active implementation. If women live in a society that forces them to undergo this procedure in order to exist in society, then we have a situation of discrimination compounded by further discrimination. We should all become actors creating conversations, speaking up against this practice and pushing for better policy enforcement against the violation of the rights of women, because their happiness is consequential to global peace.