Madam, – I was interested to read Alison Healy’s article, “Call to ban female genital mutilation in Ireland” (February 5th). Female genital mutilation (FGM) is carried out in a large number of countries, particularly in Africa. It is justified on the grounds of being religiously decreed, necessitated by social custom, or required for the inception of a girl into womanhood.
Taking into account the rooted cultural basis of the practice, it is essential to work alongside communities to communicate to the world that this procedure is a grave abuse of human rights which must be condemned. Today being the International Day of Zero Tolerance to FGM, right now is the best time to do this. Although there may be few practitioners of FGM in Ireland compared with other countries, there is an urgent need for laws criminalising the practice, not only to end the ritual in Ireland, but very importantly, to proclaim to the world that FGM is a practice which will not be tolerated regardless of any socio-cultural arguments. – Yours, etc,