02 July 2009 - 13H15
Female genital mutilation, a social reality in France
In France, an estimated 60,000 women have been subjected to female genital mutilation, having been circumcised in secrecy in France or sent back to their family's home country.
Its a little-known fact that in Europe there are almost 7 million circumcised women. In France there are at least 60,000 adults and several thousand minors who have been circumcised.
Female circumcision is also carried out on babies just a few days old, too young to be able remember it. Few survive.
The practice has been widely reported in the media and happens less often today in France, but it hasn't been completely eradicated. Despite efforts to stop the practice, every year around 20,000 young women risk circumcision in France.
In France, all children have to have medical tests until the age of six, after which its impossible to check the physical integrity of a child.
So now, some parents wait until a young girl turns six before taking them on holiday to their country of origin and circumcising them.
Pierre Foldes, a surgeon and urologist in the Paris suburbs, aims to ease the pain for these women. Twenty-five years ago, he invented a surgical method which can repair the damage caused by the knife.
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Comments
the truth, through a biased eye
I am an Afro-American, and I do not support the practice, but this was a completely biased story told from the eyes of the "occidental saviour." They didnt even begin to explore the cultural, and yes, religious (traditional African religions) side of the story. They paint these cultures like evil witches, when this is a custom. Men also go through circumcision rites, though for different reasons and far less invasive. But you have to tell the whole story. They gave countries like Guinea a bad name, because if 95% of women are circumcised, that pretty much says that the whole country is full of evil peopl who want to hurt little girls, and we know this isnt true. I'm just saying tell the whole story, and dont be biased. Once again, I do not agree with the practice of FGM.
Genital Mutilation
One of the problems with the genital mutilation of girls is that it usually co-exists with the genital mutilation of boys.
There is currently a reward offered by the Metropolitan Police in London for information leading to a prosecution.
The problems faced with societies who are trying to eliminate these practices are the continued accpetance of the circumcision of male children in Europe.
A new campaign to protects all children was launched in London in September 2008 http://genitalautonomy.org/
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