It would seem that the legal abrasion and subjugation faced by females in Africa knows no bounds or age. The international Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights provides that “everybody has the right to attain the highest possible standard of health” and this includes the right to reproductive health for all. In relation to females this includes the ability to have a satisfying and safe sex life. Unfortunately in the area of satisfying and safe sex life to say the least, culture has introduced a stricture for women in the form of Female Genital Mutilation. This practice is rife among many cultural groups in Nigeria and indeed some other African communities. This paper will explore the practice in Nigerian communities and x-ray the legal abrasions attendant in this practice. Recommendations as to the way forward shall also be proffered.
Keywords: Abrasion, Female Circumcision, Legal Coverage
