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7 May 2009
JAKARTA, Indonesia: The road to end female circumcision tradition
in Indonesia is still long and winding, but women and rights
activists and officials from related ministires expressed
their committment to continuously fighting for and garnering
wider supports for the wellbeing of Indonesian women and girls
from the practice that cause health and psychological impacts.
" Female circumcision or sunat perempuan tradition reflect
gender inequality that is often influenced by culture, political
and social values and so it’s very difficult to eliminate,”
said Ms. Setiawati from the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment
during a seminar on female genital mutilation (FGM), held
in Jakarta.
Female circumcision (FC) as FGM is better known in Indonesia
refer to various practices as harmless as wiping the genitalia
with baby oil to making incision or excision of the outer
part of the vagina to control sexuality or maintain purity.
FC is practiced by some communities in Padang (West Sumatra),
Banten (West Java), Sumenep (East Java), Kutai (South Kalimantan),
Gorontalo (Central Sulawesi) and Makasar (South Sulawesi),
among others. A 2000 study conducted in these cities and municipalities
showed that 28 percent community members performed symbolic
circumcision and 49 percent conducted incisionsthat can be
categorized as harmful. It is estimated that around the world
some 140 million women have undergone the practice and 3 million
every year experience it.
The Ministry of Health has issued in 2005 a ban against medicalization
of female circumcision by midwives, which received supports
from the profession-based organizations and associations:
the Indonesian Pediatricians Association, the Indonesian Doctors
Association, the Indonesian Gyneacologiests Associations and
the midwives association, confirming that it has no health
benefit and potentially inflict sufferings: physical and psychological.
Over 3 years after the ban issuance, debates on the medical
and religious aspects of female circumcision are up until
now still rife.
Dr. Zahidul Huque UNFPA Representative said that FC is against
human rights and equality values, which are protected by the
Human Rights Declaration and the Convention on the Elimination
of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. And that the
adoption and application of these values would determine women’s
health and social status in the communities.
"Men and women’s overall wellbeing and health is
influenced by the way they are valued, respected and given
the choice to decide without discriminations and coercion,”
said Dr. Huque.
UNFPA, he added, would continue to support programme to end
such harmful practice that degrade women’s dignity through
raising health and gender awarness among government officials,
health workers, community and religious leaders; to increase
the skill of health workers for quality reproductive health
care.
Another speaker, Sri Hermiyanti of the Ministry of Health,
citing the 2005 recommendation on FC urged all related parties
to educate the public about FC as a form of human rights violation;
to increase understading among religious leaders and law upholders
about FC and to call on MoH, MOWE and Miniter of Religious
Affairs to urge the Indonesia’s Ulemas Council (MUI)
issue a decree against FC practices.
For further information please contact:
Maria Endah Hulupi
UNFPA Communications Officer: 0812 1115 116
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