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Reproductive Health Matters
An international journal on sexual and reproductive health and rights
Volume 23, 2015 - Issue 46: Sexuality, sexual rights and sexual politics
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Features: National perspectives

The history and role of the criminal law in anti-FGM campaigns: Is the criminal law what is needed, at least in countries like Great Britain?

Pages 145-157 | Received 20 Apr 2015, Accepted 28 Oct 2015, Published online: 11 Dec 2015
 

Abstract

The history of campaigns against female genital mutilation (FGM) began in the 1920s. From the beginning, it was recognised that FGM was considered an important rite of passage between childhood and adulthood for girls, based on the importance of controlling female sexuality to maintain chastity and family honour, and to make girls marriageable. How to separate the “cut” from these deeply held norms is a question not yet adequately answered, yet I believe the answer is key to stopping the practice. Since the 1994 ICPD, national and international action against FGM has grown and resolutions have been passed in global forums which define FGM as a form of violence and a violation of children’s human rights. These resolutions have contributed to building consensus against FGM and developing national legislation criminalising FGM. Prosecutions or arrests involving FGM have been reported in several African countries and Great Britain, but apart from France, there have been very few. This paper summarises this history and how FGM has been criminalised. It argues that criminalisation may not be the best means of stopping FGM, but can have serious harmful effects itself. It calls for community-led educational information and more support for dialogue within FGM-practising communities, and argues that what is important is addressing the sexual and reproductive health consequences of FGM and gaining the understanding of women who have experienced it and their families as to why they should not make their daughters and grand-daughters go through it too.

Résumé

Les campagnes contre les mutilations sexuelles féminines (MSF) ont commencé dans les années 20. Dès le début, il a été admis que les MSF représentaient pour les filles un important rite de passage entre l’enfance et l’âge adulte, fondé sur l’importance du contrôle de la sexualité féminine afin de préserver la chasteté et l’honneur familial, et de permettre aux filles de se marier. Comment séparer la mutilation de ces normes profondément ancrées est une question encore sans réponse ; ce serait pourtant, à mon sens, une démarche essentielle pour mettre un terme à cette pratique. Depuis la CIPD, en 1994, l’action nationale et internationale contre les MSF s’est étendue et des forums internationaux ont adopté des résolutions qui définissent les MSF comme une forme de violence et une violation des droits fondamentaux de l’enfant. Ces résolutions ont contribué à dégager un consensus contre les MSF et à élaborer des législations nationales qui répriment cette pratique. Des poursuites ou des arrestations liées aux MSF ont été signalées dans plusieurs pays d’Afrique et en Grande-Bretagne, mais, à part en France, elles ont été très rares. L’article résume cette histoire et montre comment les MSF ont été sanctionnées par la loi. Il avance que cette pénalisation n’est peut-être pas le meilleur moyen de faire cesser les MSF et qu’elle peut avoir elle-même de graves conséquences. Il préconise une information éducative collective et davantage de soutien au dialogue au sein des communautés qui pratiquent les MSF. Il fait valoir qu’il est important de traiter les conséquences des MSF pour la santé sexuelle et génésique et de faire comprendre aux femmes qui les ont subies et à leur famille les raisons pour lesquelles elles ne devraient pas obliger leur fille ou leur petite-fille à en passer aussi par là.

Resumen

La historia de las campañas contra la mutilación genital femenina (MGF) comenzó en la década de 1920. Desde el principio, se reconoció que la MGF era considerada un importante rito de paso entre la niñez y la adultez para las niñas, basado en la importancia de controlar la sexualidad femenina para mantener castidad y el honor de la familia, y para preparar a las niñas para el matrimonio. Cómo separar el “corte” de estas normas tan arraigadas es una interrogante que aún no ha sido contestada adecuadamente; sin embargo, creo que la respuesta es clave para eliminar la práctica. Desde la CIPD de 1994, la acción nacional e internacional contra la MGF ha incrementado y se han aprobado resoluciones en foros mundiales que definen la MGF como una forma de violencia y una violación de los derechos humanos de las niñas. Estas resoluciones han contribuido a fomentar consenso contra la MGF y a formular leyes nacionales que penalizan la MGF. En varios países africanos y en Gran Bretaña se han reportado enjuiciamientos o arrestos relacionados con la MGF, pero aparte de Francia, ha habido muy pocos. En este artículo se resume esta historia y cómo la MGF ha sido penalizada. Se argumenta que la penalización quizás no sea el mejor medio para eliminar la MGF, ya que puede tener graves efectos dañinos. Se hace un llamado a la información educativa dirigida por la comunidad y a brindar más apoyo para el diálogo con las comunidades que practican la MGF. Se argumenta que lo importante es tratar las consecuencias de la MGF en la salud sexual y reproductiva y lograr que las mujeres que han pasado por esta experiencia y sus familias entiendan por qué no deben obligar a sus hijas y a sus nietas a hacer lo mismo.

Notes

* The World Health Organization uses the term female genital mutilation (FGM), therefore I do too. Others use female genital cutting (FGC) or put them together (FGM/C).

† Announced by Lynn Featherstone MP, then UK Minister at the Department for International Development, February 2014.

‡ Interestingly, similar arguments have been made in regard to laws against abortion, in that some people believe the act should be criminal but the people involved (women and providers) should not be sent to prison.Citation12 This is an unresolved legal conundrum.

§ See, for example, this newspaper report, which points out that the doctor who was acquitted of all charges in January 2015 was originally charged with FGM four days before the Director of Public Prosecutions was due to be questioned by Members of Parliament about why no prosecutions had taken place in spite of several years of investigations of potential cases. Peachey P. FGM trial: CPS accused of 'show trial' as UK's first female genital mutilation case collapses. 4 February 2015. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/fgm-trial-cps-accused-of-show-trial-as-uks-first-female-genital-mutilation-case-collapses-10024487.html.

** A detailed critique is beyond the scope of this paper, but would be valuable.

†† See the Serious Crime Bill, passed by Parliament in February 2015. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/9/contents/enacted/data.htm.

‡‡ Those with expertise in child protection on other grounds need to play a role in defining this, in ways specific to FGM.

§§ For a more detailed summary of this case, see refCitation28.

*** Update: UK government issues guidance on mandatory reporting of FGM In October 2015, the UK government published guidance on implementation of Part 5, Section 74 of the Serious Crimes Act, 2015 which mandates healthcare professionals to report cases of female genital mutilation in girls under 18. Guidance for professionals, and publicity materials for the new policy including patient information. At: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ fgm-mandatory-reporting-in-healthcare Accessed 14 November 2015.

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