Paged prohibition of female genital mutilation act no. Female genital mutilationnew knowledge spurs optimism more likely than those without fgm to have adverse obstetric outcomes. Health impacts of female genital mutilationcutting. The importance of this practice among the maasai is considerable. Over 100 million circumcisions have already been performed in africa alone. The woman who wants to legalize female genital cutting. The national prevalence of fgm in kenya stands at 21 per cent, according to the 2014 kenya demographic health survey. Female genital mutilation is prevalent in the gambia. Nov 03, 2015 the cutting room is grim, dark and grubby. Fgm, fgc, female circumcision, female genital mutilation in africa, female genital mutilation in kenya. Cherish others organisation kenya website anti fgm campaign highlights of the challenges facing antifgm work anti fgm run supported by mskenya.
Female genital mutilationnew knowledge spurs optimism. Nairobi, kenya, 24 august 2006 in the north eastern province of kenya, unicef is helping communities abandon the practice of female genital mutilation fgm, or cutting, which is still inflicted upon the vast majority of girls in the province. The practice is found in africa, asia and the middle east, and within communities from. The fight against female genital mutilationcutting fgmc has been fraught with both success and failure, resistance and acceptance. The author will also describe female genital mutilation in kenya. Although the practice of fgm was outlawed in kenya in 2001 under laws that prohibit customs harmful to children and under the fgm act, 2011, it is still rampant among the kenyan communities.
Female genital mutilation kenya compassion international. Female genital mutilation fgm, a practice involving the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, can cause hemorrhage, shock, complications in childbirth, fistula or death. The campaign against female genital mutilation in colonial kenya 19291932, known as the female circumcision controversy, is a period within kenyan historiography known for efforts by british missionaries, particularly from the church of scotland, to stop the practice of female genital mutilation fgm in kenya. Africa the challenge of eradicating fgm among kenyas maasai. Female genital mutilation fgm is detrimental to the physical, social and emotional wellbeing of women and girls. Descriptive statistics from four waves of demographic and health surveys february 2017 bettina shellduncan university of washington david gathara consultant, population council zhuzhi moore consultant, population council. The kenya prohibition of female genital mutilation act 2011 was put into place to eradicate fgm and to protect the mental and physical integrity of women and girls in kenya. The presenter gets involved with danger, including the rescue of a girl, during her visit to kenyas kuria people, who practise female genital mutilation published. More than million girls and women alive today have undergone the ceremonial. Fgm is illegal in kenya but, at the age of 12, her aunt tricked her into leaving school one day so that elderly women in the village could carry out fgm on her. Fgm is perceived as bringing honour to a girl and to her family. Female genital mutilation fgm, also known as female genital cutting and female circumcision, is the ritual cutting or removal of some or all of the external female genitalia.
Natembeya rejected criticism from rights groups saying a more radical approach was required to curb fgm. We do not celebrate national holidays, and my family does not have many friends who are purely. In kenya, 40% of girls and women still undergo female genital mutilation fgm, even though it is now illegal. Female genital mutilationcutting fgmc is a traditional practice in which the external female genitalia is partially or totally incised or excised for a nontherapeutic reason, usually without.
Experiencing female genital mutilation jessica from kajiado county in kenya says she has never recovered from the trauma she experienced ten years ago. The prohibition of female genital mutilation act, 2011 fgm act 2011,3 which came into effect on 4 october 2011, is the principal legislation governing fgm in kenya. Crystal corman february 6, 2016 most girls look forward to school holidays, but for some girls in kenya, this break from school is used for a ritual marking their transition from girlhood to woman. Kenyas maasai and samburu becoming women without fgm when my parents called the cutter for my sister, i warned the district officer. Female genital mutilationcutting fgm c is a traditional practice in which the external female genitalia is partially or totally incised or excised for a nontherapeutic reason, usually without.
The kenya demographic and health survey kdhs, 2014 shows that 21 per cent of women and girls aged between 1549 years in kenya have undergone fgm. The prevalence of fgm varies widely across regions and ethnic communities. Kenyas maasai and samburu becoming women without fgm. These empowered women are cutting fgm out of kenyan life. Kenyan doctor goes to court to legalize female genital. Nairobi thomson reuters foundation kenyas president on tuesday promised to end female genital mutilation fgm by 2022, a goal womens rights campaigners said was unrealistic due to. A study in 2016 suggested that kenya is third in the world for cases of medicalised fgm.
Most girls look forward to school holidays, but for some girls in kenya, this break from school is used for a ritual marking their transition from girlhood to woman. Spatial modelling and mapping of female genital mutilation in. I travelled there with a group of my university students to learn more about the cultural tradition of female genital mutilation fgm. A black african feminist theory to examine female genital. Kenyan girls returning to school face mandatory fgm and. Mar 08, 2005 once this period is over, a girl is considered an honourable woman and is free to marry. Not only is it practiced among communities in africa and the middle east, but also in immigrant communities throughout the world. During august and december, many girls undergo what is known in kenya as female circumcision.
The practice of female genital mutilation fgm is widely condemned. Type i commonly referred to as clitoridectomy, type ii commonly referred. Jan 18, 2018 female genital mutilation fgm is a global problem. According to the united nations, one in five kenyan women and girls aged between 15 and 49 have undergone fgm. In rural areas, it is a rite of passage for a maturing girl. Kenya is third in the world for cases of medicalised fgm. The challenge of eradicating fgm among kenyas maasai dw. How outlawing female genital mutilation in kenya has. The decline is as attributed to government legislation, religious influence, education and awareness. Fgm victims are fewer, but younger and more severely injured. The functions of the antifgm board in kenya are very important in protecting the rights of women and girls. Moreover, the risk of an adverse outcome increases with more extensive fgm see fgm types on page 3. Thirtyseven of the 42 tribal communities among the maasai in kenya still practice female genital mutilation. There are many local ngos, cbos, faithbased organisations, international organisations and multilateral agencies working in kenya to eradicate fgm.
An act of parliament to prohibit the practice of female genital mutilation, to safeguard against violation of a persons mental or physical integrity. Report on female genital mutilation fgm or female genital cutting fgc released by the office of the senior coordinator for international womens issues practice. It is a federal act and criminalises all forms of fgm, regardless of the age or status of a girl or woman. Female genital mutilationcutting fgmc is a global concern. The united nations estimates more than 200 million girls and women around the world suffer the consequences of cutting procedure. The new humanitarian fgm among the maasai community of kenya. Female genital mutilationcutting fgm c is still prevalent in several communities in kenya and other areas in africa, as well as being practiced by some migrants from african countries living in other parts of the world. Challenges in the eradication of female genital mutilation. The africa coordinating centre for the abandonment of female genital mutilationcutting accaf, with support from the population council, sought to synthesize the evidence on the health impacts of fgm c, identify recommended interventions, and compile and analyse the existing reference materials.
She created ways to honor cultural tradition while protecting young girls from the harmful ceremony that is used to signal transition to adulthood. Ephigenia gachiri, 71, has traveled across rural kenya for the past 16 years educating people about the dangers of fgm. As fgm is less prevalent among younger women according to city university london in 2015, this suggested a decline in the practice. Regarding age at cutting, 70% of women report having been cut between age 5 and 14 years. The prevalence of fgm in 2014 varied widely by age, location, ethnic group, and religion. In most countries it is rare for women to undergo fgm c after the age of 15. Girls are being paraded openly in the streets this article is more than 3 years old in kuria, public ceremonies celebrating the illegal season of female genital cutting have been. The prevalence of female circumcision varies widely by background characteristics. Campaign against female genital mutilation in colonial kenya. The prohibition of female genital mutilation act, 2011 fgm act, 2011, which came into effect on 4 october 2011, is the principal legislation governing fgm in kenya.
Once a thoroughly unextraordinary physician working as an administrator at kenyas ministry of health, almost overnight she became famous and hated in the global health world. Prohibition of female genital mutilation 5 issue 1 no. Kenya and other relevant legislations that address the boards core functions. This information is important for healthcare providers looking after women with fgm during childbirth. But behind the beauty is the ugly practice of female genital mutilation fgm that is performed by 78 per cent of the community. Laws of kenya prohibition of female genital mutilation act no. The antifemale genital mutilation board herein after referred to as the board is a semi autonomous government agency that was established in december 20 following the enactment of the prohibition of female genital mutilation act, 2011. Today is the international day of zero tolerance for fgm female genital mutilation.
It is in the ministry of public service, youth and gender affairs. Since kenya banned the practice in 2011, fgmc is now. The compassion kenya country office asks for prayer on behalf of girls forced to undergo female genital mutilation. This project has provided additional documentation in a pdf file projdoc. Jul 28, 2017 the five kenya girls, the restorers, created an app called icut, designed to connect girls affected by female genital mutilation fgm to legal and medical assistance. This traditional but illegal practice often happens during school breaks, including the long december holiday, as girls and families travel to their rural ancestral homes. Montclair state university theory construction and research methodology workshop tcrm.
Kenya has seen a sharp decline in the internationally condemned ritual, but it remains deeply entrenched among several ethnic groups. Kenya is witnessing a growing trend in crossborder fgm where girls and women are taken to uganda, tanzania, ethiopia and somalia for the cut, as perpetrators attempt to circumvent the laws and systems that have been put in place to end fgm. Moreover, recent data reveal that it occurs on a much larger scale than previously thought. Although the practice of fgm was outlawed in kenya in 2001 under laws that prohibit customs harmful to children and under the fgm act, 2011, it. Vision, mission and core values the board envisages a society free from female genital mutilation. Kenya pledges to end fgm by 2022 ahead of global target. The practice is found in africa, asia and the middle east, and within communities from countries in which fgm is common.
Type i commonly referred to as clitoridectomy, type ii commonly referred to as excision and type iii commonly referred to. The real price of fgm in kenya by lorna andisi photo by seth doyle female genital mutilation fgm is a human rights violation, a form of torture and an extreme form of violence and discrimination against girls and women there is no subtle way to describe it. Female genital mutilation in kenya global observatory. There is evidence of dramatic generational change in the prevalence of fgm in kenya as women aged 45 to 49 are almost four times more likely to have been cut than girls aged 15 to19. Asylum sample declaration past fgm and forced marriage. A majority of girls and women and boys and men in kenya think fgm should stop is the practice of fgm changing. The term female genital mutilation fgm refers to a cultural practice that involves the total or partial cutting, removal, or alteration of the female genitalia for social or cultural, rather. The preferential age for the procedure used to be 15 now its done to 11yearolds. A rofile of female genital mutilation in enya 04 note.
The boards mission is to uphold the dignity and empowerment of girls and women in kenya through coordination of. Kenya criminalised fgm in 2011, but the deeprooted practice persists. In rural kenya, a path to adulthood without female genital. Nairobi thomson reuters foundation a kenyan doctor is seeking to legalize female genital mutilation fgm, arguing that a ban on the internationally condemned practice is unconstitutional and. Jan 27, 2017 in kenya, 21% of women admit that they are circumcised. Abstract the problem of female genital mutilation fgm among some communities in kenya continues unabated despite a declining trend in its overall prevalence rate. Female genital mutilation performed in kenya although its. The mandate of the board broadly is to campaign for the eradication of fgm and advise the government on related matters.
The boundaries, names and designations used on the map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the united nations. Fraying gray ropes are set into the rough dirt floor, and a curtain flutters at the open door. This is a worrying trend as enforcement of the law on kenyas borders remains a challenge. In july 2017, kamau filed a petition to overturn kenyas prohibition of female genital mutilation act, a landmark bill passed in 2011. Cast your eye upon these glorious colours worn by a group of maasai women i met in kenya recently. Kenya is home to 4 million girls and women who have experienced fgm.
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