Female genital mutilation: some ethical questions

This paper provides some basic information about female genital mutilation (FGM) as a social problem and as a health problem. It includes selected actions taken over the last 45 years by the United Nations regarding FGM. The focus here is on the ethics of individuals and institutions, such as the World Health Organization, attempting to intervene in traditional cultural practices like FGM. This discussion raises some questions about ethical universals and ethical relativism with regards to FGM and the attempts to change or eradicate this practice.