Egypts fight against female genital mutilation.

This paper explores Egypts fight against female genital mutilation (FGM). Led by the task force created by Egypts National Commission on Population and Development Egyptians are fighting to eradicate a practice that has been scorned by the international community and many Egyptians as well. It is noted that it was only after the 1994 Population Conference that Egyptians themselves realized how widespread FGM really was. In 1995 the Egyptian demographic health survey found that 97% of married women between the ages of 15 and 49 years had experienced some form of FGM. Dr. Mahmoud Karim a pioneer who started the first family planning center in Egypt has also taken up the effort to stop the practice. Dr. Karim has published a book on FGM defining the practice and suggesting ways on how to deal with it. In his book he defines the four different degrees of the practice and indicates tradition and religious dictates as the main reasons for its prevalence. Some of the approaches adopted to eliminate the practice include education for both the public and those people who perform FGM.