FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION: A CHILD RIGHT OR CULTURAL IMPERIALISM

ABSTRACT Female genital mutilation (FGM) or female circumcision (FC) is to some people in the society, a barbaric practice while to others it is a custom and a respectable cultural practice. There have been several municipal and international laws enacted over the years in furtherance of the quest to abolish the practice of FGM as it is asserted to be harmful to the health of the girl child. However, there are similar practices in the Western World that are not regarded as barbaric or harmful to the health of those who are subjected to it. The determinant question in this era is this, is the campaign against FGM across the world really propelled because the practice is harmful and barbaric? Or is it just another way for the Western World to impose their beliefs on the rest of the world thereby making all other culture inferior. 
This study therefore examines the concept of female genital mutilation, the origin of the practice and the various reasons across different culture for its practice. It further examines both the medical and psychological disadvantages and effects of female genital mutilation. These research work proceeds to critically appraise different international and municipal laws that abolishes female genital mutilation. It also compares FGM with similar practices in the Western World while commenting on the health hazards and advantages of such practices. Furthermore, FGM is sufficiently juxtaposed with the widely accepted and practiced art of male circumcision.  Finally this essay proffers recommendations among which is the lack of need to carry out female genital mutilation and effective measures to abolish the practice.
  TABLE OF CONTENTS COVER PAGE.................................................................................................................... ATTESTATION PAGE.................................................................................................... CERTIFICATION PAGE................................................................................................ ABSTRACT...................................................................................................................... TABLE OF CONTENTS................................................................................................. DEDICATION................................................................................................................. ACKNOWLEDGMENT................................................................................................ TABLE OF STATUTES................................................................................................. LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS........................................................................................
CHAPTER 1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.0.0: INTRODUCTION................................................................................................... 1.1.0: BACKGROUND TO STUDY................................................................................ 1.2.0: OBJECTIVES OF STUDY..................................................................................... 1.3.0: SCOPE OF THE STUDY............................................................. 1.4.0: METHODOLOGY........................................................................... 1.5.0: LITERATURE REVIEW....................................................................................... 1.6.0:DEFINITION OF TERMS................................................................................... 1.7.0: CONCLUSION......................................................................................................
CHAPTER 2 FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION AND ITS EFFECTS 2.0.0: INTRODUCTION................................................................................................. 2.1.0: CLASSIFICATION OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION....................... 2.1.1: EXCISION OF THE PREPUCE....................................................................... 2.1.2: EXCISION OF THE CLITORIS.......................................................................... 2.1.3: EXCISION OF ALL OR PART OF THE EXTERNAL GENITALIA AND NARROWING OF THE VAGINAL OPENING....................................................... 2.1.4: PRICKING, PIERCING OR INCISING OF THE CLITORIS.................... 2.2.0: HEALTH EFFECTS OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION.................. 2.3.0: PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION... 2.4.0: CONCLUSION………………………………………………………..................
CHAPTER 3 CULTURAL IMPERIALISM 3.0.0: INTRODUCTION................................................................................................. 3.1.0: DEFINITION AND CONCEPT OF CULTURAL IMPERIALISM............... 3.2.0: FEMALE CIRCUMCISION IN THE YORUBA CULTURE......................... 3.3.0: SIMILAR PRACTICES IN THE WESTERN WORLD................................. 3.4.0: MALE CIRCUMCISION V. FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION............ 3.5.0: FEMALE CIRCUMCISION UNDER ISLAMIC LAW.................................. 3.6.0: CONCLUSION.....................................................................................................
CHAPTER 4 FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION UNDER THE CRA 2003 4.0.0:  INTRODUCTION................................................................................................ 4.1.0: PROHIBITION OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION UNDER THE CRA 4.2.0: DOMESTICATION OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION LAWS IN NIGERIA  4.3.0: EFFECTS OF THE LAW ON FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION LAWS IN NIGERIA................................................. 4.4.0: CONCLUSION........................................................
CHAPTER 5 GENERAL CONCLUSION 5.0.0: CONCLUSION...................................................................................................... 5.1.0: RECOMMENDATION......................................................................................... BIBLIOGRAPHY............................................................................................................ ARTICLES IN JOURNALS................................................................................... ARTICLES ON THE INTERNET.................................................. BOOKS.............................................. PAPERS PRESENTED AT CONFERENCES, WORKSHOP AND SEMINARS....... REPORTS AND OFFICIAL DOCUMENT............................................. TABLE OF STATUTES •Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended, 2011) •Child Right Act 2003 •Violence against persons prohibition Act 2015 •Bayelsa state female genital mutilation prohibition law 2002
TABLE OF TREATIES •Child right convention 1989





















LIST OF ABBREVATIONS
•CRA:                                                                         Child Right Act •CRC:                                                                         Child right convention •DLV:                                                                         Designer laser vaginoplasty •FC:                                                                            Female circumcision •FGC:                                                                      Female genital cutting •FGM:                                                                        Female genital mutilation •LRV:                                                                         Laser vaginal rejuvenation •MC:                                                                           Male circumcision •PBUH:                                                                       Peace be unto him •SWT:                                                 •MC:   •PBUH:   •SWT:   •UN:                                                                            United nations •UNFPA:                                                                      United nations fund for population                                                                                                 activities •UNICEF:                                                                    United nati