Female Circumcision in Sudan: Exploring the Human Rights Abuse Through a Culturally Competent Lens

Female circumcision, or more commonly known to the world as Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C), is a human rights abuse that has been taken seriously by the international community since the late 1990s. Since this practice is most common in Africa, this study puts a spotlight on female circumcision in Sudan. The prevalence in Sudan of this practice has informed a lot of research on the subject, but for the purpose of the paper, there is a specific focus on the discussion of female circumcision as it pertains to human rights. The discourse surrounding the topic of female circumcision in Sudan, as well as the international community in general, is sometimes divisive, patronizing, and not culturally competent. This paper explores the human rights abusive practice of female circumcision in Sudan and discusses its tradition, the types of circumcision performed, the history behind it, and the religious debates surrounding it. Most importantly, this paper discusses the political and colonial influences that informed how the international community framed the issue of female circumcision today. This paper critiques the colonial approach to eradicating circumcision, and speaks to the non-intended neo colonialist approach that the United Nations currently takes when it comes to "Female Genital Mutilation." Understanding these religious and colonial influences behind female circumcision will inform the analysis of what has been done to combat the practice in Sudan, as well as what is presently happening. The paper will end with my recommendations. These recommendations will seek the best approach to help victims of Female Circumcision without provoking them from a provincial, colonialist attitude.