INTRODUCTION

Every country has different cultures and traditions, different laws and different
values. However some of this cultures and traditions may cause harm or may violate a
persons rights. Some traditions that are practiced in foreign countries seem to be
contrary to morals that a person must follow.

African countries including some asian countries have some certain practices
that are immoral to the point that human rights advocates are pushing for some acts to
be banned. Mutilation of the femal genital organ, among others, are practiced in most
african countries and are continued up to this day. Human rights advocates are doing
their best efforts to inform the people that this practices still occur without them knowing.
Female genital mutilation is considered to me harmful to the persons rights because it
violates some of the rights mentioned under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
(UDHR).

While it is true that some cultural or traditional practices are in fact sacred
among the people who practice it, it is of importance that the said practice should not be
contrary to morals as it violates certain rights which are protected under the UDHR. The
UDHR has been made to protect peoples rights not only for a certain country but for all
the countries around the world. Hence, the said rights should be upheld.

1. ) Female genital mutilation (FGM)

According to some sources FGM, also known as female genital

cutting and female circumcision, is the ritual removal of some or all of the external
female genitalia. Typically carried out by a traditional circumciser using a blade or razor

(with or without anaesthesia), FGM is concentrated in 27 African countries, Yemen and

Iraqi

Kurdistan,

and

found

elsewhere

in

Asia,

the

Middle

East,

and

among diaspora communities around the world. The age at which it is conducted varies
from days after birth to puberty; in half the countries for which national figures are
available, most girls are cut before the age of five. The procedures differ according to
the ethnic group. They include removal of the clitoral hood and clitoral glans (the visible
part of the clitoris), removal of the inner labia and, in the most severe form (known
as infibulation), removal of the inner and outer labia and closure of the vulva. In this last
procedure, a small hole is left for the passage of urine and menstrual fluid, and
the vagina is opened for intercourse and opened further for childbirth. Health effects
depend on the procedure, but can include recurrent infections, chronic pain, cysts, an
inability to get pregnant, complications during childbirth and fatal bleeding. There are no
known health benefits.

Female genital mutilation, is outlawed in most countries as it violates the very

essence of life due to the fact that it deprives the person of his capacity choose for
himself not to be circumsized. Human rights groups are pushing to enforce laws that
can put a stop to this kind of practice, however, African countries have poorly enforced
laws, which makes it almost impossible for them to put an end to this practice.

Some people who are in the field of antropology says that FGM has been the
central topics or issues that they have regarding the morality of the said act. This has
been further discussed by human rights advocates wherein they are making efforts to
stop and rescue the various tribes who still practice FGM. It is a difficult tradition to stop
since it has been practiced for as long as the tribes know what is right and wrong. In
others point of view it might seem that what is being practiced is contrary to existing
laws , and even morality but to them since they are a tribe who have been practicing
FGM for as long as they know, it would seem right to them.

FGM does in fact violate the rights set under the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights particularty, Article 1, which provides All human beings are born free
and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and
should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. , by practicing the said
right the one to whom the tradition has been made to, the last sentence of the said
article has been violated since the said practice would render them not to act with
conscience and reason towards another. Moreover Article 3 of the UDHR provides
that Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person., every person is
born free and has a right to enjoy his life free from any servitude, freedom to choose
and to make decisions of his own, and to be secure to himself from any form of
violence. By the said practice of circumsision, the person immediately loses his right
to life since he or she is bound by the said practice, more over it is the right of every
human being to procreate, to do such act against them would hinder procreation. The
persons liberty is also stripped from him as he is not given a choice regarding what
his or her decision is in life. Lastly, his security is at stake as bodily harm is bound to
happen as the said practice has been engaged.

https://wanjalawafula.wordpress.com/2013/08/04/spotlight-on-harmful-traditionalpractices-and-customs-in-kenya/
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en/