Why war on FGM must be won

This Saturday, February 6, 2016, the world will mark the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

Here in Kenya, the national celebrations will be held in Tot, Elgeyo Marakwet County with a number of other activities planned for several other FGM ‘hotspots’ namely Samburu, Kajiado, Isiolo, Tharaka Nithi and Garissa.

FGM, otherwise known as female circumcision, is one of the most severe forms of Gender Based Violence (GBV).

It is a gross violation of women and child rights as it reflects deep-rooted inequality between the sexes. It constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against women and violates their rights to health, security and physical integrity, the right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and the right to life when the procedure results in death.

The practice kills the dream of many girls. The dream of getting an education; marrying when they choose; controlling their bodies and their lives; the dream of becoming everything they know that they can be, no matter the obstacles or risk.

According to the recently launched Kenya Demographic and Household Survey (KD&HS) 2014, at least 9.3 million girls and women in Kenya have undergone FGM, accounting for 6.64 per cent of the estimated 140 million girls and women who have been cut worldwide. This figure illustrates the enormity of the problem that Kenya is facing in a bid to safeguard the dignity and rights of our girls and women.

FGM continues to be practised with impunity despite the existence of international conventions and national statutes that clearly prohibits it. For instance, Goal Number Five of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals calls for the elimination of all harmful practices such as early and forced marriages and FGM.

The Universal Declaration of human rights also identifies FGM as a violation of human rights while UN Resolution 67/146 calls for acceleration of efforts to eliminate FGM. The Bill of Rights in Kenya’s Constitution guarantees the protection of every child from abuse, neglect, harmful cultural practices, all forms of violence, inhuman treatment and punishment, and hazardous or exploitative labour.

The Children’s Act 2001, the Sexual Offences Act 2006, the Prohibition of FGM Act 2011 and the Prevention Against Domestic Violence Act outlaw specific forms of violence against women and girls. So does the National Policy for Prevention and Response to GBV. The establishment of the National Gender and Equality Commission in 2013 and the Anti-FGM Board to spearhead gender issues and coordinate the fight against FGM respectively attest to the government’s commitment to eliminate GBV including FGM.

In view of the pervasive nature of FGM practice, the Government has employed multi-pronged strategies that involve many players such as religious leaders, community-based organisations, non-governmental organisations, and professionals from FGM practicing communities.

Aggressive awareness-creation, sensitisation and education campaigns, and promotion of Alternative Rites of Passage (ARP) have been carried out in many of the 17 counties regarded as FGM hotspots. An estimated 10,000 girls have gone through ARP since January 2014.

The Government has also established gender desks in all police stations and deployed special GBV prosecutors. To date, over 150 people including Chiefs, have been charged in court or are being investigated for either practicing or abetting FGM in various parts of the country. Scores have been sentenced for up to five years imprisonment. The above interventions have cumulatively contributed to the decline in FGM prevalence, which now stands at 21, down from 27 percent in 2009, according to the KD&H Survey. This decline is among the highest reductions in prevalence rates recorded in the world during this period.

Although the fight against FGM is beginning to yield positive results, we are still witnessing cases of resistance and difficulty in gathering evidence and witnesses to testify, among other challenges. We must therefore not relent but work together vigorously to eliminate the vice in order to secure the dignity of our girls and women, and for the betterment of our society.

I am confident that with uncompromising will and leadership, sustainable partnerships, a robust legislation, support of our partners and enhanced community mobilisation that aims at changing the social norms that drive the practice, we shall eliminate FGM and all other forms of GBV in our society in the coming days. Let us all turn out in large numbers to mark this special day in the six counties where it is being commemorated.