Question

Explain how you could argue AGAINST the practice of Female Genital Mutilation in Ethical Choices). How does this undercut the core ideas of cultural relativism?

Answer 1

ANS ) Female genital mutilaton is a term used to state the wide range of cultural & tranditional practice in which partial or total external female genital parts are removed for traditional , cultural , religious & social reasons THIS CULTURAL PRACTICE IS A VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS OF CHILD AND WOMEN.

The origin of Female Genital Mutilation ( FGM) :There were no clear evidence when the practice of FGM stated , but some state that it originated in ancient Egypt around 2000 BC., also assumed that it initiated in acient Greece, Rome ., Pre Islamic Aribia ,the reasons behind was to cure hysteria & some psychiatric conditions& this harmful tradition was known as female circumcision.

Within this continent , it is surveyed that 3 million females are at the risk of FGM each year & abot 65% are from Egypt & Ethopia what ever are the statistics , the existance of the practice by itself is the most persistent , pervasive & silently endured human rights violations.

International Human Rights Instruments against FGM : United Nations declared of human rights & was noted a harmful traditional practice . The Universal Declaration of Human Rights which was adopted by the United Nations General assembly in 1948 & was forwarded for human rights law by the two general covenants, The International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights (ICCPR) & International Covenant on Economic , Social & Cultural Rights (ICESCR) . Both prohibits discrimation on the grounds of sex & the need for the respect of the rights of persons& for the promotion & procection of health . All forms of of Discrimination against women , the convention against torture, other cruel, Inhuman treatment , prohobits the the infliction of physical , mental& suffering on women & rights of child.

1) Human rights violated by FGM .

2) Right to health.: Right for all human beings to live in good health & care.

3)Right of the child .: The victims are mainly of the group between 7 to 14 yrs.

4) The right to sexual & physical integrity.

5) Right to be free from discrtmination .

6) Free from torture, cruel, inhuman & degrading treatment.

Many legal documents are available for all forms of discrimation against women (CEDAW).

a) Criminal code of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethopia ,

c) Programmes like ICPD, ICCPR, UDHR fare being strictly followed by the governing bodies.

There are number of arguments against cultural relativism , it would give us no ability to criticism anti semitism nor any reason to think that society made no moral progress . According to cultural relativism how much value & weight should be given to the tradition as compared to the right of the women.

However , when we are considering the morality of a particular practice , the cultural value has no significance.