Sudan outlaws female genital mutilation
Sudan's criminalization of the practice done to a majority of young girls won praise and may reflect some change in attitudes.
Sudan outlawed female genital mutilation last week, drawing praise from the international community.
The representative in Sudan for the UN’s body for children’s issues UNICEF said the practice, which has been relatively common in segments of Sudanese society, hurts young girls and must end.
“This practice is not only a violation of every girl child’s rights, it is harmful and has serious consequences for a girl’s physical and mental health,” Abdullah Fadil said in a statement. “This is why governments and communities alike must take immediate action to put an end to this practice.”
Female genital mutilation, also known as female circumcision, is the physical removal of external female genitalia. It is typically done to girls before puberty and occurs in parts of Africa and the Middle East. The practice can lead to several health complications, including chronic pain, difficulty urinating and menstruating, childbirth issues and deadly bleeding, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
