According to Soemardi, a Health Ministry spokesperson, the ban against the practice came in the form of a notice sent to doctors and nurses in April. “The circular bars all medical workers from performing female circumcision either by slicing, cutting, or damaging the genital organs or its surroundings,” Soemardi said.
Sri Hermiyanti, Head of the Indonesian Health Ministry’s Family Health Directorate, said, “Hurting, damaging, incising, and cutting the clitoris are not permitted under the ban, because these acts violate the reproductive rights of these girls and harm their organs. However, there are no punishments in place for those who violate the ban.” She added that “physicians are allowed to continue performing symbolic female circumcisions that do not involve physical harm.”
Based on the Report on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) or Female Genital Cutting (FGC) of the Office of the Senior Coordinator for International Women’s Issues in 2001, the more commonly practiced female circumcision procedures in Indonesia include either the removal of the clitoral hood with or without removal of all or part of the clitoris, or the pricking, piercing, or incision of the clitoris and/or labia.
FGM is largely a symbolic procedure. The practice is ceremonial, during which the clitoris of the baby or young girl is scraped or touched, often with the purpose of drawing several drops of blood.
FGM is a social custom, not a religious practice. According to Amnesty International, FGM predates Islam and is not practised by the majority of Muslims. Female genital cutting is a practice of both Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
At present, efforts to stop FGM have been more prominent. However, Sri Hermiyanti said, “It is expected that it will take time for traditional communities to stop performing female genital mutilation.”
Sources:
“Female genital mutilation banned in Indonesia” from newsdesk.org, posted on October 6, 2006, <http://www.newsdesk.org/archives/000876.php>.
“Indonesia Bans Doctors from Practicing Female Genital Mutilation” from Feminist Daily News Wire, posted on October 6, 2006, <http://www.feminist.org/news/newsbyte/uswirestory.asp?id=9919>.
“Indonesian Government Imposes Ban Against Female Genital Cutting” from The Female Genital Cutting Education and Networking Project, posted on October 9, 2006, <http://fgmnetwork.org/news/show_news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1160573550&archive=&template=>.
“Report on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) or Female Genital Cutting (FGC)” from the Office of the Senior Coordinator for International Women's Issues, posted on June 1, 2001, <http://www.state.gov/g/wi/rls/rep/crfgm/10102.htm>.
“What is Female Genital Mutilation?” from Amnesty International, <http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/ENGACT770061997>.
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