Female Genital Mutilation: The case for calling it torture and a crime against humanity

In this article, Ms. Antonia Mulvey, Executive Director of Legal Action Worldwide makes the case that Female Genital Mutilation / Cutting (FGM/C) can amount to torture and under some circumstances could constitute a crime against humanity. She argues that FGM/C is widespread in many countries today and that where the state has overseen widespread FGM/C but taken little or no action to prevent it, the state could be complicit in a crime against humanity. No legal case has ever defined FGM/C as torture, but doing so may act as a deterrent for future crimes, inspire communities which see that accountability is possible, and may result in compensation for the victims.