Only from such models is it fully possible to explore such issues as the rights of women and of children, of the part which the well-being of women plays in the health of a nation, and also the strengths and weaknesses of the various international campaigns on the subject.
Only from such models is it fully possible to explore such issues as the rights of women and of children, of the part which the well-being of women plays in the health of a nation, and also the strengths and weaknesses of the various international campaigns on the subject.
This report provides an explanation of the practice of female circumcision - its extent, practice, historical antecedents, contemporary practice, medical and social consequences, and campaigns against it (legal, medical and social) in Africa, the Middle East and Europe. Medically unnecessary and extremely painful operations are routinely carried out on babies and young girls. In their most severe forms they involve the partial or complete removal of the external female genitalia. This little known custom affects more than 80 million women and girls in over 20 countries in Africa. Please note that the terminology in the fields of minority rights and indigenous peoples’ rights has changed over time. MRG strives to reflect these changes as well as respect the right to self-identification on the part of minorities and indigenous peoples. At the same time, after over 50 years’ work, we know that our archive is of considerable interest to activists and researchers. Therefore, we make available as much of our back catalogue as possible, while being aware that the language used may not reflect current thinking on these issues.
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is regarded as either a human rights violation or as female circumcision, a traditional cultural practice in some African and Islamic countries. A UK public health /FGM consultant who works with immigrants and advocates for its eradication introduces a dozen chapters examining religious, legal, ethical, and health aspects. For caseworkers, policy makers, and academics, the reader includes diagrams of types of FGM, data, a glossary, support advice and resources. Published by Radcliffe Medical Press, Ltd. Distributed in the US by BookMasters. Annotation :2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com).
The Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (CETS No. 210) is the first legally binding instrument to address violence against women and domestic violence in Europe. It contains a wide range of obligations aiming to prevent violence, protect its victims, prosecute the perpetrators, implement coordinated policies and promote international co-operation. It also envisages a monitoring mechanism. The convention recognizes violence against women as a violation of human rights and is a major step forward in achieving gender equality in law and in fact.
Between 100 and 140 million girls and women have been subjected to genital mutilation and each year a further 2 million, mostly in Africa, are at risk of the practice. Female Genital Mutilation entails severe pain and shock, and can lead to long-term physical and psychological damage, including inability to enjoy sexual relations.
Female genital mutilation (FGM) has garnered significant media, political and legal attention in the UK. Despite criminalising the practice in 1985, FGM continues undetected and often underground. This monograph provides a unique insight into survivor's attitudes towards FGM as well as the criminalisation of a culturally embedded practice. Some of the narratives might be deeply uncomfortable as women sympathise and even uphold the practice, whilst others viscerally describe the trauma and pain that they endured. Digging deeper into efforts to eliminate FGM, professionals at the coalface of the end FGM movement provide their views on whether the practice can ever be eradicated. This volume explores the key themes that emerged from the well-publicised criminal trials in the UK and the barriers that prevent the law from working effectively. One of the obstacles that are examined further is the legal double standard in criminalising FGM whilst permitting female genital cosmetic surgery, which incites hostility and anger amongst FGM-performing communities. Whilst ending FGM is imperative, this enlightening work reflects on the unintended consequences that stem from punitive efforts to criminalise a practice performed by often Black, migrant communities. Women describe their experiences of racism and Islamophobia in a context of police surveillance and hyperbolic media narratives. In an effort of encouraging the abandonment of FGM, this publication highlights the need for the law to be accompanied by education initiatives at a grass-root level.
This book explores the phenomenon of anti-femail genital mutilation (FGM) social media activism. Against a backdrop of over 200 million girls and women worldwide affected by FGM, this volume examines key global online campaigns to end the practice, involving leading virtual platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Drawing from twenty-one fieldwork interviews with anti-FGM activists, frontline practitioners and survivors, the volume investigates opportunities and challenges inherent to cyberspace. These include online FGM bans as well as practices such as ‘cyber-misogyny’ and ‘clicktivism’. Global campaigns featured include the UN’s International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM, the WHO’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Programme, The Girl Generation, The Guardian’s End FGM Global Media Campaign and the Massai Cricket Warriors. Furthermore, ten case-studies document prominent anti-FGM campaigners. Firstly, five African-led narratives from celebrated activists: Efua Dorkenoo OBE, Waris Dirie, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Jaha Mapenzi Dukureh and Leyla Hussein. Second, five accounts from FGM survivors interviewed for the book: Mama Sylla, Masooma Ranalvi, Farzana Doctor, Fatou Baldeh and Mariya Taher. By exploring anti-FGM online activism, this book fills a gap in the literature which has largely overlooked FGM’s presence in cyberspace as a virtual social movement. Female Genital Mutilation and Social Media will be of interest to activists, survivors, frontline professionals, students, academics and the wider public.
This book has reviewed the research undertaken on a broad range of reproductive health issues and their mental health determinants/consequences over the last 15 years from both high- and low-income countries. Evidence from peer-reviewed journals has been used wherever possible but has been augmented with results of a specific survey initiated to gather state of the art information on reproductive and mental health issues from a variety of researchers and interested parties. Valuable data from consultant reports, national programme evaluations and postgraduate research work was also compiled, analyzed and synthesized