posted
Italy recently passed a law that allows law enforcement to arrest anyone who has performed female genital mutilation, or is known to be planning such an act.
I was listening to the radio earlier today and they announced the first arrest made under that new law. A 43-year old woman was arrested when it became known that she was planning to perform the procedure on a baby that was mere days old. There is also reason to believe that she's already done this more than once.
As much as I was disturbed to hear that a woman, of all people, would do such a thing, I think this is an important step.
Apparently, FGM had become a sizable problem in Italy due to the amount of immigrants from Africa and other islamic countries who started performing the procedure, so that the law became a necessesity. As far as I can tell, Italy is the third European country (after France and UK) that has made laws about this.
At first I was happy to hear about this law (and I suppose that is still the over-riding emotion) but then I was shocked that such a law didn't already exist and disgusted with the fact that the law is needed to begin with.
[I'd link to some sources, but I got this from the radio and I doubt I'd find an English article. But I'll try.]
[ 04-04-2006, 01:32 PM: Message edited by: September ]
-------------------- -joey Scarleteen Volunteer
"The question is not who will let me, but who is going to stop me." -Ayn Rand Posts: 8424 | From: Cologne, Germany | Registered: Sep 2005
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posted
September, have you read "Possessing the Secret of Joy," by Alice Walker?
If not, I'd suggest it. It's an amazing, amazing novel, all about dealing with FGM, and one of the central themes deals with the betrayal of most FGM being woman-to-woman.
-------------------- Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, Scarleteen About Me • Get our book! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead Posts: 63418 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
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