2007年VOA标准英语-UNICEF Urges End to Female Genital Mutilation i

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
18 September 2007

The United Nations Children's Fund says the practice of female genital mutilation remains¹ unacceptably high in Egypt. But, a UNICEF representative tells VOA the Egyptian government is committed to ending this widespread cultural practice that is said to pre-date the time of the Pharaohs. Lisa Schlein reports from Geneva.

Female genital mutilation affects both Muslim and Christian² girls in Egypt. The government outlawed³ the practice in 1997. Nevertheless, studies show it remains widespread.

An Egyptian Demographic and Health Survey conducted in 2005 shows more than three-quarters of girls between age 15 and 17 had been subjected to female genital cutting.

UNICEF representative in Egypt, Erma Manoncourt, tells VOA many people view this practice as a rite⁴ of passage and a way of ensuring a good marriage for their daughters.  She says most people believe it has a religious basis. 

"There is no evidence in religious texts either in the Muslim tradition nor in the Christian tradition that promotes this practice," Manoncourt said. "Oftentimes, unfortunately, when you are in rural areas or when you are talking with people and you ask them why are you doing it, they might cite that by religion they should be doing it.  But, in fact, that is not the case." 

Genital female mutilation often involves excising⁵ the clitoris and sometimes other female genitalia.  It can cause both physical and psychological trauma⁶.  In some cases, the procedure causes hemorrhaging, shock and sexual dysfunction. And some girls have died from the cutting.

The United Nations reports that globally about three million girls are cut each year, and an estimated 130 million women have undergone the procedure. 

It is practiced in about 28 African countries, including Sudan, Somalia, Sierra Leone and Mali.  It also takes place in some Middle Eastern countries and in immigrant communities in Europe and North America.

The Egyptian demographic survey shows that female genital cutting is most widespread among poor families in rural areas of the Nile valley in southern Egypt.

But, Manoncourt says many families in urban areas have used a loophole in the 1997 law to have the procedure done in hospitals.

"The loophole was it had a statement that said under exceptional cases," Manoncourt said. "And, of course what happened right then was a number of families used that as a way to kind of get in to get this practice done by medical practitioners⁷, whether it be physicians, nurses or whatever.  So, what was unique about Egypt is that most of it has been done by the medical profession.  So, 75 percent according to the last statistics I saw said it was coming from this particular group of people as opposed to other parts of Africa traditional excisers." 

Manoncourt says the government has since closed the loophole and is imposing⁸ fines upon those who continue to perform the procedure. 

She says religious and political leaders have banded together to end the practice of female genital mutilation following the deaths of two young girls in June. She says there is a momentum⁹ never seen before to end to the practice. 

1 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

2 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

3 outlawed   

宣布…为不合法（outlaw的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Most states have outlawed the use of marijuana. 大多数州都宣布使用大麻为非法行为。
• I hope the sale of tobacco will be outlawed someday. 我希望有朝一日烟草制品会禁止销售。

4 rite   

n.典礼，惯例，习俗

参考例句：

• This festival descends from a religious rite.这个节日起源于宗教仪式。
• Most traditional societies have transition rites at puberty.大多数传统社会都为青春期的孩子举行成人礼。

5 excising   

v.切除，删去( excise的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The censor insisted on excising the passage from the film. 电影审查员坚持剪去影片的这一段。 来自辞典例句
• This contradiction embodied uncertain life value idea and excising state. 在这种矛盾冲突中又体现了不确定性的人生价值观和生存处境。 来自互联网

6 trauma   

n.外伤，精神创伤

参考例句：

• Counselling is helping him work through this trauma.心理辅导正帮助他面对痛苦。
• The phobia may have its root in a childhood trauma.恐惧症可能源于童年时期的创伤。

7 practitioners   

n.习艺者，实习者( practitioner的名词复数 )；从业者（尤指医师）

参考例句：

• one of the greatest practitioners of science fiction 最了不起的科幻小说家之一
• The technique is experimental, but the list of its practitioners is growing. 这种技术是试验性的，但是采用它的人正在增加。 来自辞典例句

8 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

9 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。