A society’s true measure is how it protects its most vulnerable members, particularly young girls, from violence. On this International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), we affirm the critical need of protecting girls from harm and raising them with dignity and security. FGM is a moral problem that reveals a society’s inability to uphold justice and compassion.
FGM is more than just a destructive practice; it represents a moral dilemma. It deprives young girls of their rights, causes long-term suffering, and perpetuates an oppressive cycle that should not exist in a civilized world. The way a society treats its daughters reveals its actual character.
Many people defend acts like FGM in the name of tradition but morality is not bound by cultural conventions. True morality acknowledges the worth and dignity of every human being. When a society tolerates injustice against its most vulnerable people, it fails its most fundamental test.
Moral responsibility has traditionally revolved upon defending the innocent and standing up against oppression. The Bible encourages us to: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.” True morality respects the value and dignity of every human being and requires us to defend the weak. When young girls face lifelong physical and emotional agony, it is not acceptable to turn a blind eye to injustice.
Let us strive for a world where compassion surpasses cruelty, love replaces fear, and everyone’s dignity is respected. Protecting girls from harm is both a human responsibility and a moral imperative. Every child deserves a life devoid of suffering. The decisions we make now shape the world we leave behind.
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