• Genital mutilation

Genital mutilation

Harmful traditional values and practices are a root causes for discrimination and violence against girls. This paper explores initiatives taken by the Inter-African Committee (IAC) to eradicate long accepted forms of violence, including early and forced marriage, male-child preference and female genital mutilation (FGM). Drawing on the IAC’s experience the paper provides the several recommendations to accelerate the eradication of harmful traditional practices which violate the basic human rights of girls. Suggestions include:

• identify the best approaches to apply to specific situations with regards to traditionally condoned forms of violence through action research
• ensure government engagement both at the policy and programme levels in order to make a sustained intervention that reaches the entire population
• intensify the education of the girl child and introduce subjects such us gender equality in schools and universities
• train law enforcing agents on violence prevention and management
• involve the community, especially those affected groups in decision making for designing programmes

For the case of FGM among diasporas, the paper recommends that parents of circumcised girls are not automatically criminalised, rather that they are sensitised to the negative consequences of this practice. Also, that organisations support activities that create bridges for flow of information and for reinforcing families both at home and abroad to reject harmful traditional practices.

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