Penalisation of Female Genital Mutilation in India: An Urgency

Authors: Shreya Chauhan and Tanya Singh, Students, Amity law school, Delhi, India

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Abstract

Female genital mutilation which is also known as female genital cutting and female circumcision involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia or other injuries to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. FGM is practised among communities in Asia, Middle East and Africa. The practise is deeply rooted in gender inequality as it attempts to control women's sexuality, and ideas about beauty, modesty and purity. World Health Organization is opposed to all forms and kinds of FGM and is opposed to health care providers who perform and practice FGM. The practice has no health benefits for girls and women but rather has a long lasting effect on their physical as well as mental health. After going through various newspaper articles, books, websites, NGO reports and papers of various journals, the prevalence and ill effects of the practice and how the practice can be curbed have been analyzed and various solutions against this barbarous practice have been discussed in this paper. In India, FGM has a prevalence among the Dawood Bohra Community of Islam. Female Cutting is in direct violation to the human rights mentioned under various International instruments and the Indian Constitution. The object of this research is to find approaches to criminalize FGM as it is an encroachment to secure human rights.

Keywords: Female Genital Mutilation, Types, Punishment.

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Penalisation of Female Genital Mutilatio

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