Female Genital Cutting: shattering the debate yet still violating human rights
Summary : The international fight against the various forms of female circumcision, or the mutilation of the genitals of women and children, has many different aspects. Although no religious text from any religion suggests the practice, still in many countries the torture of young girls and women continue. Even though there is an assumption that the phenomenon is exclusive to the developing world, many practices in the West, such as vaginal and vulvar surgeries, as well as changes to the face and body of women can be included in the same tendency to portray women as impure, incomplete, and in need of improvement so that she can be accepted by prospective husbands.
Female genital circumcision: medical and cultural considerations.
Female circumcision (FC), also known as female genital mutilation (FGM), is a procedure that involves partial or complete removal of external female genitalia. The definition given by the World Health Organization (WHO) states that female circumcision "comprise all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs whether for cultural, religious or other non-therapeutic reasons" (WHO, 1998, p.5). The United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Population Fund, and the WHO have jointly issued a statement that FC and FGM causes unacceptable harm and issued a call for the elimination of this practice worldwide. The WHO also contends that female circumcision is a "violation of internationally accepted rights" (WHO, p.1). Female circumcision is a widespread cultural practice and affects millions of young women. Issues related to female circumcision that are of special concern are health consequences, civil rights, cultural considerations, and legal and ethical aspects. The purpose of this paper is to address the incidence of FC and FGM, the historical background, the procedure, the medical complications and cultural considerations. Legal and ethical issues of FGM will also be discussed.
Circumcision and infibulation of females: a general consideration of the problem and a clinical study of the complications in Sudanese women.

 The history of female circumcision and infibulation is discussed. Its geographical distribution, reasons for performing the procedure, types of operations, age at which the operation is performed in different areas, and indications for the procedure are discussed. The real reason for the practice was to preserve virginity by reducing the sensitive parts of the female genitalia. It has been noted that female circumcision is no protection against sexual immorality. Results of a clinical study conducted into the immediate and long-term complications of female circumcision and infibulation in Sudan are cited. Retention of urine was a more common but less serious immediate complication than either shock or hemorrhage. Case studies of complications are cited. Attitudes toward the practice are becoming unfavorable. Methods of eradicating the practice are recommended.
