Female Genital Mutilation and Its Ethical Issues
FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION
AND ITS ETHICAL ISSUES A Research Paper Presented to
Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Colleges
General Santos City
In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements
For Philo 3
Vinna P. Boholst
Glicen Lou L. Monton
Patrick L. Villas
March 2012
Table of Contents
PAGE
TITLE PAGE i
CHAPTER
I INTRODUCTION 1 Statement of the Problem 2 Scope and Limitation of the Study 3 Definition of Terms 3
II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 6 Cultural Justification of Female Genital Mutilation 6 Ethical Issues in Female Genital Mutilation 6 Female Genital Mutilation – What it is and
Why it Still Continues 9 Classification 9 How Widely it is Practiced 9 Why the Practice Continues 10 Female Genital Mutilation is a Violation of Human Rights 14 International and Regional Sources of Human Rights 15 International treaties 15 Regional treaties 16 Consensus documents 16 Human Rights violated by Female Genital Mutilation 16 The Rights of the Child 17
III FINDINGS AND INTERPRETATION 19 What Female Genital Mutilation is 19 Why Female Genital Mutilation is Controversial 19 Why Female Genital Mutilation is Unethical 21
IV CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 22
BIBLIOGRAPHY 23
Chapter I
INTRODUCTION
Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM) is practiced in so many countries in Africa and Asia. FGM is a deeply rooted social and cultural requirement for girls before marriage. Supporters of the practice rely on religion and tradition to defend their belief. Nowadays it is considered as an important problem, from both public health and ethical aspects in the countries where it still exists. It violates the essential principles of medical ethics and human rights. The main ethical drawback of FGM is that; it is a senseless practice which provides no direct benefit to girls on whom it is
AND ITS ETHICAL ISSUES A Research Paper Presented to
Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Colleges
General Santos City
In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements
For Philo 3
Vinna P. Boholst
Glicen Lou L. Monton
Patrick L. Villas
March 2012
Table of Contents
PAGE
TITLE PAGE i
CHAPTER
I INTRODUCTION 1 Statement of the Problem 2 Scope and Limitation of the Study 3 Definition of Terms 3
II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 6 Cultural Justification of Female Genital Mutilation 6 Ethical Issues in Female Genital Mutilation 6 Female Genital Mutilation – What it is and
Why it Still Continues 9 Classification 9 How Widely it is Practiced 9 Why the Practice Continues 10 Female Genital Mutilation is a Violation of Human Rights 14 International and Regional Sources of Human Rights 15 International treaties 15 Regional treaties 16 Consensus documents 16 Human Rights violated by Female Genital Mutilation 16 The Rights of the Child 17
III FINDINGS AND INTERPRETATION 19 What Female Genital Mutilation is 19 Why Female Genital Mutilation is Controversial 19 Why Female Genital Mutilation is Unethical 21
IV CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 22
BIBLIOGRAPHY 23
Chapter I
INTRODUCTION
Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM) is practiced in so many countries in Africa and Asia. FGM is a deeply rooted social and cultural requirement for girls before marriage. Supporters of the practice rely on religion and tradition to defend their belief. Nowadays it is considered as an important problem, from both public health and ethical aspects in the countries where it still exists. It violates the essential principles of medical ethics and human rights. The main ethical drawback of FGM is that; it is a senseless practice which provides no direct benefit to girls on whom it is
Bibliography: HighBeam Research – The Abolition of Female Genital Mutilation. Retrieved March 10, 2012 from http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001524.html Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS – Female Genital Mutilation. Retrieved March 10, 2012 from http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/102/1/153.full Eliminating Female Genital Mutilation an interagency statement Mutilation/Cutting: Promoting Gender Equality. Retrieved March 10, 2012 from http://www.unfpa.org/gender/practices2.htm Female circumcision controversy (1929-1932) Mutilation definition. Retrieved March 14, 2012 from http://www.thefreedictionary.com Female Genital Mutilation definition Mutilation definition. Retrieved March 14, 2012 from http://www.thefreedictionary.com Labia Minora definition Clitoris definition. Retrieved March 14, 2012 from http://www.thefreedictionary.com Neonatal death definition. Retrieved March 14, 2012 from http://www.thefreedictionary.com