A group of female Sudanese politicians and activists called for the abolition of female circumcision yesterday, the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation.

Requesting education and sensitization of citizens in order to end the practice which is common in Sudan, Africa and the Arab world, they claimed that it affects mothers and daughters both physically and psychologically.  A number of the activists, when asked by Radio Tamazuj, said that society should fight the practice and a large number even claimed that the phenomenon is a crime against humanity.

Dr Ehsan Fagery, activist and doctor, claimed that female genital mutilation is a form of violence against women, because it violates a woman's right to live a normal life in terms of morality, sexuality and well being and should be challenged using all available resources.

Female circumcision is a common practice in Sudan for reasons often linked to social and religious conventions.

Photo Credit: A Misseriya woman stands in front of a thatched shelter in Goli, Sudan, March 2009 (Tim McKulka/UN)