Orchid Project spent considerable time late last year crafting our submission for consideration in the context of the Universal Periodic Review of Indonesia, an instrument of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council set up to review the human rights records of every member state, every four years. Indonesia took the stand in the Human Rights Council last week, and we were pleased that delegates from both Norway and Uruguay took the opportunity to raise the subject of female genital cutting.

Recommendations to Indonesia on FGC

Orchid Project submitted information on the situation of FGC in Indonesia (read our blog from last year, too) and highlighted the implications of the Government regulations which essentially medicalise the practice – asking that the regulations be repealed and that World Health Organisation guidelines are followed regarding Health Practitioners and FGC. The Indonesian Government now has to respond to the below recommendations:

“109. The following recommendations will be examined by Indonesia which will
provide responses in due time, but no later than the 21st session of the Human Rights
Council in September 2012.

109.26. Repeal the Regulation of the Minister of Health N° 1636 on Female
Genital Mutilation and officially prohibit the increasing practice of female
circumcision and other traditional practices inflicting sufferings on women and
girls (Norway);
109.27. Adopt all necessary measures to eradicate the persistent practice of
female genital mutilation, including through awareness-raising campaigns, in
cooperation with civil society organizations (Uruguay)”

Orchid Project is pleased that both Norway and Uruguay made these recommendations, and we will look forward to seeing Indonesia’s responses by the end of September 2012, hopefully leading to real consideration by the Government with regards to repealing the current regulations which effectively condone female genital cutting in the country.