Paper Summary:

This paper underscores that, according to the United Nations, female genital mutilation (FGM) is a violation of the basic human rights of women. Next, the author describes FGM and the cultural and religious reasons for this practice; however, the author contends there is no justification for this continued cruelty and torture of women. The paper stresses that the WHO attack on FGM through advocacy, research and guidance to health systems has not adequately halted FGM and that the organization should work harder to develop more effective ways to fight this malicious human rights violation.

From the Paper:

"There are three common types of FGM: clitoridectomy, excision, infibulations, and other less common types. The clitoridectomy is the fractional or entire amputation of the clitoris (a small, sensitive and erectile part of the female genitals), and very rarely, the prepuce, the extra piece of skin surrounding the clitoris. An excision is the fractional or whole amputation of the clitoris with the labia minora; an excision may or may not even remove the labia majora . The third type of cutting, infibulations, is the narrowing of the vaginal opening by creating a casing fasten."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Beyer, Lisa. "The Women of Islam." Time 25 Nov. 2001: n. pag. Web. 17 Mar. 2010. <http://www.time.com////,8599,185647,00.html>.
• El Ahl, Amira, and Christopher Sultan. "A Small Revolution in Cairo; Theologians Battle Female Circumcision." New York Times 26 Dec. 2006: n. pag. Web. 17 Mar. 2010. <http://query.nytimes.com//.html?res=9D05E3DF1731F935A35751C1A9609C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=3>.
• Greer, Germaine. "Why Genital Cutting Goes On." Newsweek 5 July 1999: n. pag. Web. 17 Mar. 2010. <http://www.newsweek.com//>.
• Rosenthal, Elisabeth. "Genital Cutting Raises by 50% Likelihood Mothers or Their Newborns Will Die, Study Finds ." New York Times 2 June 2006: n. pag. Web. 17 Mar. 2010. <http://www.nytimes.com//////mutilation.html?_r=1&scp=8&sq=female%20circumcision&st=cse>.
• Tierney, John. "A Compromise on Female 'Circumcision.'" New York Times 19 Mar. 2008: n. pag. Web. 17 Mar. 2010. <http://tierneylab.blogs.nytimes.com////compromise-on-female-circumcision/?scp=6&sq=female%20circumcision&st=cse>.

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