DPM maintains that female genital mutilation is part of Malaysian culture
Thursday, 15 Nov 20181:16 PM MYT
by hemananthani sivanandam, martin carvalho, and rahimy rahim
KUALA LUMPUR: Putrajaya has reaffirmed its stand that female genital mutilation (FGM) is part of Malaysian culture.
The statement came following a flare-up when on Nov 9, Malaysian delegates to the Universal Periodic Review on human rights in Geneva, Switzerland, defended the practice of infant female circumcision as a “cultural obligation” in Malaysia.
The National Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) lambasted Putrajaya for making what it said were “misleading statements” that FGM was part of Malaysian culture.
However, in affirming the government's stand, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said FGM here was unlike that practised in some African countries.
“But we are not the same as Africa, all the mutilation (there),” she told reporters at the Parliament on Thursday.
Dr Wan Azizah, who is also the Women, Family and Community Development Minister, added that her Ministry would look into the issue and discuss it.
“If it doesn't give any benefit, then we should do something,” she said.
In criticising the government's stand on the issue, Suhakam chairman Tan Sri Razali Ismail had said it was inaccurate to describe FGM as a Malaysian cultural practice and this had the potential of further damaging the country's international standing on human rights.
He said Suhakam was disheartened by the “unconvincing and misleading” response “poorly attempted” by the representative of the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development that FGM was not practised in Malaysia.
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/11/15/dpm-maintains-that-female-genital-mutilation-is-part-of-msian-culture/#3gcloQew05okKUVy.99
Wednesday, 14 Nov 201811:39 AM MYT
PETALING JAYA: The National Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) has slammed Putrajaya for making misleading statements that "female genital mutilation (FGM) is part of Malaysian culture".
"The inaccuracy of the Ministry's position in describing FGM as a Malaysia culture has the potential of damaging further Malaysia's international standing on women's rights," Suhakam chairman Tan Sri Razali Ismail said in a statement Wednesday (Nov 14).
"Suhakam is particularly disheartened with the unconvincing and misleading response poorly attempted by the representative of the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development that FGM was not practised in Malaysia," he said.
On Nov 9 (Friday), Malaysian delegates to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on human rights in Geneva, Switzerland reportedly defended the practice of infant female circumcision as a "cultural obligation" in Malaysia.
"Given the apparent absence of understanding and expertise of human rights among civil servants, Suhakam hopes that Government Officers will be properly trained on human rights especially before representing the country at the Human Rights Council," he added.
However, he said Suhakam welcomed the government's intention of reviewing past UN recommendations, including acceding to all remaining international human rights treaties.
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/11/14/suhakam-takes-womens-ministry-to-task-over-female-circumcision-statement/#ieG2KbkC76ExLvZ3.99
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