FGM in Sierra Leone

I think this clip was very interesting and showed another side to why FGM is still being practiced in so many countries like Sierra Leone.

Yes FGM is a cultural practice but many cultural customs have been recognised throughout history as being harmful and in complete violation of human rights as FGM too should.

The issue is a sensitive one but i believe FGM practitioners are masking this inhumane custom as a rite of passage for many girls, in order to make lots of money from these poor people who want their daughters to get married and not be shunned by their community.

Like the gentlemen in the clip stated, we cant just eradicate this practice these people need an alternative. It is clearly showed through education this torturous practice can be put to an end in these poverty stricken countries. Sadly, it has been made a lucrative business and therefore it makes sense why many are not willing to put an end to this heinous cultural custom.

Female genital mutilation is a BARBARIC practice that needs to be eradicated throughout the world. The issues raised above and in other comments are incredibly relevant to the struggles people have with cultural context and realising that some practices, such as FGM, are in complete violation of human rights and therefore should be ELIMINATED EVERYWHERE!.

It's their choice. Leave them alone and go hug some trees.

Thank you for reporting on such an important story. It's worth noting that your story shows that the practictioners of FGM are female themselves. The status of women in the developing world must be raised in order for everyone to rise above poverty and what poverty entails (i.e. the lack of educational opportunities for girls and women, also outlined in your story). Let's celebrate both the men and women who are working to eradicate the danger that FGM represents to women's health.

This is awesome Jenn.

That's a very good thing!

Jenn! Good work on a touchy subject. Amazing access. And putting this type of story in the international media is a great first step in trying to create an open dialogue on this issue within Sierra Leone.

Thank you for this great work! This is an excellent example of the high cost of perpetuated ignorance within the context of culture.

Let us not forget that these women's only means of marrying, and thus having any kind of access to resources to sustain themselves rides on being circumcised. In some cultures, women who are not circumcised cannot marry and be considered a woman, this is a rite of passage that cannot be restricted to those who need it to survive, but this should remain a choice of the individual and their families. There are also varying types of female circumcision involving clitoridectomy, excision of the clitoris, and/or infibulation (sewing of labia shut). If female circumcision is a human rights issue, maybe male circumcision should then be a human rights issue as well. One cannot force views on others without understanding the cultural context/necessity of the time, place, and people.

It would seem that Freetown is not so free for females.

This phenomenon has been going on for quite some time now, and sadly, most of the operations are painful and unsaniatary, andl lead to further complications. Women will have to work together to prevent this kind of oppression and degradation.

I knew stuff like this still occurred around the world, but I didn't realize it was so pervasive throughout portions of this world.