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Cameroonthe Penal Code. However, the Penal Code negates the specific circumstancesand needs that are involved in violence between domestic inmates.In fact, domestic violence continues to be seen as a private matter by thelaw enforcement officials.It has been reported that domestic violence is encouraged by judges’acceptance of the principle that a man has “disciplinary rights” over hiswife. This principle can come into play due to a wife’s refusal to havesexual intercourse with her husband or due to his alcoholism. 52 Moreover,as has been mentioned above, since husbands pay a “bride price” for theirwives, its is difficult for women to divorce from their husbands, even incases of domestic violence.4.2 Marital RapeIt is not clear whether marital rape is considered a crime or not, since thedoctrine is divided in to two camps and the courts are careful not to take adecision in favour of either side. 53 However, it seems to be culturallyaccepted that consent to marriage constitutes consent to each request ofsexual intercourse.4.3 Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)The practice of female genital mutilation constitutes a serious offenceagainst the physical and psychological integrity of the girl child. Thispractice, which mainly affects young girls, still exists in some regions ofCameroon, especially in the extreme north, the south-west and the northwestof the country where the practice is said to affect 100% of Muslimgirls and 63.6% of Christian girls. 54 According to the WHO and UNFPA,up to 20% of all women in Cameroon undergo the practice of female genitalmutilation (FGM).Reportedly, the following three forms of FGM occur in Cameroon: clitoridectomy;excision; and the most severe form, infibulation. The leastextreme form, clitoridectomy, consists of removal of the clitoris, to varyingdegrees. The second type, excision, consists of clitoridectomy togetherwith partial or total removal of the labia minora. Finally, the mostextreme form, infibulation, involves the removal of the entire clitoris and133