Female Circumcision...

Female circumcision is when the genitals or part of the genitals of a female's body is cut off or mutilated as part of religious and societal beliefs and customs.  Female Circumcision is not associated with any one religious group. It is practiced by Muslims, Christians, Jews and members of indigenous African religions. Female circumcision is often performed by lay practitioners with little or no formal knowledge of human anatomy or medicine. In most cases, the operation takes place under unhygienic conditions with dirty unsanitary instruments. Circumcision can have many immediate and long-term consequences. These consequences vary considerably by the type and severity of cutting, with the most serious complications associated with infibulation. The immediate consequences include difficulty in passing urine, urine retention, hemorrhage, infection, fever, stress and shock and damage to the genital organs. Over time, circumcised women may also develop menstrual complications, vulvar abscesses, obstetric complications, urinary tract infections, chronic pelvic infection and low fertility or sterility. In addition, female circumcision, especially infibulation, may make intercourse per- functory or even painful. Despite these grave risks, its practitioners look on it as an integral part of their cultural and ethnic identity. In societies in which few women remain uncircumcised, problems arising from female circumcision are likely to be seen as a normal part of a woman's life and may not even be associated with circumcision. Societies with a high rate of female circumcision support these practices because it so inbred in their cultural conditions. Many societies believe if you do not get circumcised you are not fit to be a wife and you are outcasted. Some people in these cultures look at you as inferior if you don't get circumcised because it's a practice that everyone partakes in. Nevertheless the consequences are grave. The psychological, emotional and physical damage inflicted on these women are detrimental. Some women are infertile, others have painful sexual encounters and experiences, while others suffer from the memories of that wretched day where their bodies were mutilated. Female circumcision is currently practiced in at least 28 countries Many nations like France and the United States forbid such practices because not only it is a violations of a person's rights to life but it's somewhat barbaric, for lack of a better word. Some consider these circumcision as a form of child abuse, a violation of women's rights and human rights. Evidence shows that very little can be done to stop female circumcision even though many efforts have been made and continue to be made. It seems that it's very hard to break traditions no matter how deleterious they may be to the welfare of a human being. 

Source, A study of Genital Mutilation, facts information etc: International Family Planning Perspectives

Volume 27, Number 2, June 2001 Female Circumcision in Sudan: Future Prospects and Strategies for Eradication

By M. Mazharul Islam and M. Mosleh Uddinhttp://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/2313097.html