UN Backs Push to End Female Circumcision

[katty]

Feb 28, 1:39 AM EST

UN Backs Push to End Female Circumcision

By EDITH M. LEDERER
Associated Press Writer

more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/UN_FEMALE_CIRCUMCISION?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US

UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- Ten U.N. agencies have launched a campaign to significantly reduce female circumcision by 2015 and eradicate the damaging practice within a generation.

In a statement released Wednesday, the agencies said female circumcision violates the rights of women and girls to health, protection and even life since the procedure sometimes results in death.

The agencies pledged to support all efforts by governments, communities, women and girls to reduce and end the practice.

Female circumcision, also called female genital mutilation, usually involves the removal of the clitoris and other parts of female genitalia. Those who practice it say it tames a girl's sexual desire and maintains her honor.

"Today, we must stand and firmly oppose this practice because it clashes with our core universal values and constitutes a challenge to human dignity and health," Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro told the Commission on the Status of Women where the campaign was launched.

[Bicoastal]

1. EEK!

A curcumcision thread in GD!

Everybody RUN!!!!! :yoiks:

[Cant trust em]

2. What about male circumcision?

I've had part of my penis chopped off. I'm totally ignorant on the whole issue, so please don't take umbrage at this post.

[katty]

3. this practice is horrific and extremely complicated to address

from the 'outside looking in' with respect to societies that practice this as normal & traditional aspect of their social structure.

[Samurai_Writer]

4. Male circumcision is nothing like female genital mutilation

To be comparable, you would have to have the entire head of your penis removed, instead of removing a small flap of skin. In FGM, the entire clitoris is removed. The clitoris has as many nerve endings in it as the entire penis does, just in a much smaller area.

[uppityperson]

5. Often without any anesthesia, and labial lips sewn together also.

Sometimes whole labia and clitoris are cut/scrapped away, then labial edges sewn together leaving only a small opening for urine to pass out of. No anesthesia sometimes too, and not done to babies but to gradeschool aged girls.

[katty]

6. yes, there have been some incredible docs on this-it is

extremely painful mutilation.

[Cant trust em]

7. Holy shit!

I don't want the entire head of my penis removed. Thanks for clearing up that misconception for me. Yikes!

[uppityperson]

8. AND sew it to the underside of your scrotum

leaving a tiny opening so you can pee but trying to have sex would be incredibly painful. Women who have had total circumcisions need to be cut open again to give birth, then can be resewn shut. It is wild. Yes, sometimes only the clitoris is clipped, but that is way beyond too much even.

[Cant trust em]

9. Information is always important, but I'm sorry I asked this question

You know that sympathy pain feeling you get when you see something horrible on TV, like someone's arm getting chopped off? That's what I have right now.

[uppityperson]

10. Sorry.

Sometimes all we have to carry us through is dark humor. It's not funny, but either we drown in our tears or laugh. At any rate, I'm glad the topic is coming up again and hope that it does get stopped. Some MD's do them because otherwise they would be done anyway in a non-hygienic fashion. In my opinion a lot of things like this started as a tiny thing, then got misinterpreted to mean more more more and here we are.

[Cant trust em]

12. and we thought that the sexism Hillary is facing is rough

really puts our discussion of whether certain words are sexist in perspective.

[originalpckelly]

11. I'm glad someone posted this...

this is a big misconception, and it makes the female "circumcision" (really genital mutilation) seem less severe. Many guys don't miss that little flap of skin, but would miss the entire head of their penises.

[Canuckistanian]

15. Educate yourself

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infibulation

[aikoaiko]

13. Good. I look forward to reading more about the plan.

[KaptBunnyPants]

14. There's a limit to respecting cultural differences.

Clitoral mutilation is way on the other side of the line. I'm glad to see the UN doing something about it, this abhorrent practice belongs in the history books, and no where else.

on edit: I think chest ironing out to be in the same category.