female genital mutilation (photo-robert skinner)

In a ruling that would have been declared as landmark one had the parliament of Uganda not passed a law banning FGM recently, the five justices of the Constitutional court agreed with the petitioners that the practice of FGM abuses fundamental rights of women and is against the laws of Uganda and several instruments on women’s rights that Uganda is signatory to.

The Constitutional Court justices led by the deputy Chief Justice Leticia Kikonyogo agreed with the petitioners that the practice is not in accordance with Uganda’s laws and the international treaties.

The Human Rights Advocacy for Women in Uganda, a local NGO petitioned the Constitutional Court in April 2007 seeking nullification orders against FGM which is a culture practice among the Sabiny of eastern Uganda and a few Karimojong. FGM is practiced as an initiation rite of girls into adulthood, but it has resulted in many pains and diseases for women who undergo the practice. In some countries like Mali and Tanzania, girls are circumcised as young as two years.

The petitioners actually argued that the practice has no medical benefits and only results in medical complications for women and girls who undergo the painful practice.

The Human Rights Advocacy for Women in Uganda also argued that FGM is done by unprofessional surgeons without anaesthesia which cases a lot of pain and increases the risk of HIV transmission due to use of unsterilized instruments and untrained personnel.

The Member of Parliament for Kinkizi West, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi earlier this year succeeded in convincing the Parliament of Uganda to pass his anti FGM legislation which President Yoweri Museveni assented to and is already a law.

By Ultimate Media

The post Uganda Constitutional Court Declares Female Circumcision unconstitutional first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Minister Nakadama giving speech

The Minister of Uganda for Gender and Culture, Rukia Nakadama has urged UN member states to ban female genital mutilation at the forth coming gender assembly in September this year.

In Uganda female genital mutilation is widely practiced by the Sebei and some Karimojongs. She also urges African Union member states sitting in Kampala this month to ban the vice.

According to the programme, AU summit in Kampala will discuss issues such as reproductive health, terrorism and maternal health among others.

The Minister says female genital mutilation is inhuman and so degrading women. Uganda banned the practice last year.

By Ultimate Media

The post Minister wants female circumcision banned first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.