NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
May 18, 2010
Contact: Tom Benton, MD, FCP, President
Telephone: 888-376-1877
Website contact: www.best4children.org
Email contact: acopadmin@gmail.com

The American College of Pediatricians Opposes All Forms of Female Genital Cutting

The American College of Pediatricians (The College) calls for the continued banning of all forms of female genital cutting (FGC).  In a change of policy last week, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), an entirely separate and independent professional association, recommended that "federal and state laws enable[d] pediatricians to reach out to families by offering a ritual nick as a possible compromise" to medically harmful FGC.  The current legal prohibition of any form of FCG in the US is intended to dissuade this culturally-rooted, medically illogical and inhumane practice performed on young girls to depleasurize their future sexual experience.

The AAP justifies its new position by likening this ritualistic and purposeless "incising of clitoral skin" of young girls to male circumcision which is performed at birth and carries medical benefits.  By week's end the AAP released a clarification attesting to their opposition to FGC, but made no alteration in their official policy statement.  The College favors current US law and that of many other countries which forbids all forms of FGC.  By advocating "nicking," the AAP is sadly and gravely placing the wants of adults above the health needs of young girls.

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The American College of pediatricians is a national medical association of licensed physicians and healthcare professionals who specialize in the care of infants, children, and adolescents. The mission of the College is to enable all children to reach their optimal physical and emotional health and well-being. For more information about the College, please visit our website www.Best4Children.org.