Mashua Against FGM Global Campaign join hands with the women activists of indonensia to say NO TO ANY FORM OF FGM.

In recent years, the law that prohibited the performance of FGM by health professionals has led some communities in Indonesia to continue practicing FGM in secret, for example in their own homes. As a reaction to this development, the Indonesian government revoked its 2006 law and adopted a new regulation that states that mutilation should be performed only my legal medical workers, a decision that sparked anger and disappointment among human rights and women’s rights activists in Indonesia and around the world.

Activists urged Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih to immediately revoke a ministerial regulation on female genital mutilation because it not only legitimizes violence against Indonesian women but also may neglect their abilities to fully exercise their fundamental rights on reproductive health and freedom.

National Commission on Violence against Women (Komnas Perempuan) deputy chairperson Masruchah said Thursday the issuance of Health Minister Regulation No. 1636/2010 on female genital mutilation had tarnished the commitments recently shown by the government in protecting women’s reproductive health and freedom.

“It is so sad to see such a setback as we have achieved some improvements in protecting the rights of our women,” Masruchah told a press conference held by Amnesty International and Indonesian Civil Societies.

As part of commitments to protect rights on reproductive health and freedom, the Health Ministry’s public health directorate general issued in 2006 a circular letter prohibiting professional health workers, including nurses, midwives or physicians, to perform female genital mutilation.In 2006, Indonesia, which has one of the highest rates of female genital mutilation in the world, made the practice of removing the clitoris of newborn babies illegal. In Indonesia, the mutilation is usually performed shortly after the birth of female babies by midwives or other health workers. As a result, the rate of FGM in Indonesia is estimated to be as high as 98 percent.“In Bone, South Sulawesi, followers of Islam who have deep-rooted patriarchal cultures define the female genital mutilation as a total removal of the clitoris. It is very dangerous because it will not only hurt women but also badly affect their reproductive health,” Masruchah said.How can they now permit female genital mutilation, whereas they have previously prohibited such inhumane practices? It is a setback,” said women rights activist Ratna Batara Munti.

The Komnas Perempuan demanded the ministry prohibit FGM altogether.I Lucy Mashua the global ambassador for fighting female genital mutilation and standing up for women rights and speaking from experience I agree this is a major setback and making our efforts as activists useless. any kind of FGM is unacceptable and it's against human rights of women! NO GOVERNMENT,RELIGION,CULTURE OR MAN has the right to sexually enslave a woman by disabling her God given genitals!! Women we don't exist just to give babies,satisfy men sexually...we exist because we are the givers of life and we are human beings!!! We should be treated with respect at all times anywhere in the world.

Ambassador Lucy S. Mashua, President of Mashua Voice for the Voiceless, International
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Chairperson of the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Leading in lobbying for HR 5137: The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack.
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