CULTURE VS HUMAN RIGHTS; A CASE OF FGM (Female Genital Mutilation)
Culture is a set of rules or norms governing a specific society. In Uganda, different societies have differing traditional practices which have been carried down from generation to generation.
FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) and genital elongation are one of the traditional practices carried out by some tribes in Uganda. FGM consists of traditional practices of partial or total removal of external genitalia for non-medical reasons.
Over the years, human rights defenders, activists and advocates have taken various steps to do away with this inhumane act. With the Prohibition of FGM Act enacted in 2010, there was hope for the girls in the Sebei Sub-region districts and surrounding areas but recently it’s been discovered that FGM is still being practiced.
It is important to respect culture but there can never be development especially with respect and promotion of human rights when we still have some repugnant cultural practices that are in violation of human rights being widely practiced.
One of the reasons why this odious custom is still practiced is the desire to preserve culture (customs and tradition). Some of the tribes and societies continue with this practice, despite the prohibition laws, simply to maintain their cultural identity. The continued practice of FGM poses health risks to the victims and also a violation to women’s rights and bodies. FGM has immediate and long term physical and mental effects to women and therefore needs to be stopped to protect women’s rights and respect their bodies and dignity.
We don’t have to forget our culture or turn against our beliefs but there’s a need to be aware of the norms and beliefs that are holding us back from becoming a Human Rights-violation free community. Such practices that constitute disrespect for human dignity and subject humans to inhumane treatment have got to be stopped.
We need to root out the abhorrent cultural practices and preserve those that contribute to our community and human development.
“FGM is cruel, inhumane and degrading to girls and women and should be completely eradicated.”
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