The Practise of Female Genital Cutting/Mutilation: Cultural Practise Or Violation of Human Rights?
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THE PRACTISE OF FEMALE GENITAL CUTTING/MUTILATION: CULTURAL PRACTISE OR VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS? OI Durodola 10478427 STUDY LEADER: PROF. KARIN VAN MARLE DECLARATION I Durodola Olapeju Ifeoluwa declare that the thesis which I hereby submit for a Masters of Law (LLM) degree at the University of Pretoria is my own work and has not been previously submitted by me for any degree at this or any other institution. Durodola Olapeju Ifeoluwa Date i DEDICATION Dedicated to my awesome family Evangelist & Pastor (Mrs) Durodola My amazing parents, who have stood by me through thick and thin Adejoke Adebayo, Oludasola Olaojo, Olaide Durodola amd Olukayode Durodola The best siblings anyone could ever ask for Oyewole Jimoh My better-half, my best friend and number one cheerleader and supporter. Olufemi Olagboye For being a true friend. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to express sincere gratitude and appreciation to my study leader, Prof. Karin VanMarle for giving me the opportunity to study in this department and for giving her time to guide me in the right direction throughout this study. To Tshepo Madlingozi for helping to proof-read my chapters and re-arrange my thoughts when they seemed to be all over the place, I say thank you. To Olufemi Olagboye, for reading several chapters in your busy schedule and passing comments even though you are not in the legal profession, I appreciate you. To Sunet Slabbert, for hearing my ‘soppy’ tales and giving motherly advices as at when needed, I am very grateful. To Liana Viljoen, who is ever attentive and ready to give a helping hand in the library, you are appreciated. I am also very grateful to my family residing in South Africa, Adejoke Adebayo, Olukayode Durodola, Opemipo and Opeyemi Adebayo for their moral support and having a listening ear whenever I just needed to vent. To my amazing mother, Pst (Mrs) Durodola, and my father Evangelist Lere Durodola, thank you so much for supporting me in all my decisions even if they did not make sense at the times I made them, for loving me unconditionally and for being my pillars of support and encouragement in every way. To my entire family, this could not have been achieved without your unwavering support. Thank you. Above all, I am eternally grateful to Almighty God for strength, wisdom, success and the ability to pull through. iii Table of Contents CHAPTER ONE .................................................................................................................................................. 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 RESEARCH PROBLEM ......................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 RESEARCH QUESTIONS ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 MOTIVATION ........................................................................................................................................ 2 1.3.1 BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................... 2 1.4 LITERATURE REVIEW. ....................................................................................................................... 6 1.5 APPROACH AND METHOD .............................................................................................................. 12 1.6 CHAPTER SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................ 12 CHAPTER TWO ............................................................................................................................................... 14 THE HISTORICAL ORIGINS, JUSTIFICATIONS AND PRACTISE OF FEMALE GENITAL CUTTING/FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION .......................................................................................... 14 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 14 2.2 Origins and Meanings ...................................................................................................................... 15 2.3 The Different Types of FGC/FGM ................................................................................................. 20 2.4 The Justification of FGC/FGM ........................................................................................................ 23 2.4.1 Custom and Traditions ................................................................................................................ 25 2.4.2 Women’s Sexuality ........................................................................................................................ 27 2.4.3 Religion ............................................................................................................................................. 27 2.4.4 Social Pressure ............................................................................................................................... 30 2.4.5 Myths and Beliefs .......................................................................................................................... 30 2.5 Health Hazards of FGC/FGM .......................................................................................................... 31 2.5.1 Immediate Complications .......................................................................................................... 32 2.5.2 Long Term Complications .......................................................................................................... 34 2.5.3 Psychological Effects .................................................................................................................... 36 2.6 Historical development of the origin of the terms Female Genital Cutting and Female Genital Mutilation ..................................................................................................................... 37 2.7 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................... 47 CHAPTER THREE ........................................................................................................................................... 48 FEMALE GENITAL CUTTING AS A CULTURAL PRACTICE ................................................................. 48 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 48 3.2 What is Culture? ................................................................................................................................ 49 iv 3.3 Ubuntu as a fulcrum for Female Genital Cutting .................................................................... 53 3.4 Margin of Appreciation ................................................................................................................... 58 3.5 Limitations and Benefits of Culture ............................................................................................ 60 3.6 FGC as a Cultural Practice .............................................................................................................. 61 3.7 Cultural Autonomy ........................................................................................................................... 66 3.8 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................... 73 CHAPTER FOUR ............................................................................................................................................. 74 FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION AS A HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION ............................................ 74 4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 74 4.2 A Brief Discussion of Rights and Human Rights ..................................................................... 75 4.3 Limitations of Human Rights ........................................................................................................ 81 4.4 Benefits of Human Rights ............................................................................................................... 84 4.5 Various Instruments put in place to curb FGC/FGM ............................................................. 86 4.6 FGM as an Infringement of rights. ............................................................................................. 90 4.6.1 The Right to Health ....................................................................................................................... 90 4.6.2 The Right to be Free of Cruel and Degrading Practices ................................................... 93 4.6.3 The Right to Sexual and Corporal Integrity ......................................................................... 95 4.6.4 The Right to Reproduction ......................................................................................................... 97 4.7 Limits of the above Documents in Protecting women against FGM ................................ 98 4.8 Reasons for the continued existence of FGM despite laid down laws ............................ 98 4.8.1