Harmful Traditional Practices in Three Countries of South Asia: culture,human rights and violence against women (2013)
This study is a Descriptive research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics:
Author(s): Savitri Goonesekere
FGM/C Type(s): All
Health area of focus: None.
Objective: To determine whether traditional and cultural practices are harmful and constitute violence against women
Study Population: Women,NGOs,women hospital (health professionals)
Findings: The three countries studies from South Asia documented a range of traditional and cultural practices that could be considered harmful and also violence against women according to international human rights standards. These standards were applicable in each of the three countries,as all were States Parties to two key treaties relevant in this area,the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. They had all also ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,committing Governments to effective implementation through an individual complaints procedure at the international level. The international human rights standards could be considered as directly incorporated in Nepal because that country had adopted a monist approach to international law,facilitating the direct application of a ratified treaty. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka followed a dualist approach to treaties,which meant that legislative,judicial or policy incorporation was required at the national level for treaty standards to apply. However,all of the countries had national constitutions that incorporated fundamental rights regarding gender equality and bodily security.
Geographical coverage
Region(s):Southern Asia
Country(ies):Nepal,Bangladesh,Sri Lanka