In its 2008 CEDAW review, the Malaysian government reported that the type of female circumcision practiced in the country fell under Type 4 of the World Health Organization FGM/C classification scheme, i.e., “all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical pur- poses, e.g. [...] Asian countries in the region are signatories to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. [...] This constitutes that States are obligated to act in the best interest of the child to enable the protection, promotion and fulfilments of the political, economic, social, health and cultural rights of the child. [...] Regardless of the evidence of harm inflicted by FGM/C, there is still no sight of anti-FGM/C laws in the Asian region.7 RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE WAYS FORWARD8 The government must bring together all relevant stakeholders, including religious authorities, health professionals, and civil society, to participate in a constructive dialogue to break the existing impasse on female circumcision/genital cut. [...] Take concrete steps to implement the recommendations of the Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and the Committee on the Rights of the Child which relate to prevention of FGM/C, where applicable.
- Pages
- 5
- Published in
- Malaysia
