by EFUA DORKENOO
Masaai mothers in Kenya go through the ‘Reconciliation Ceremony’ as they celebrate the decision with their daughters to reject FGM. The Tasaru Rescue Center in the Narok region of Kenya now holds this yearly rite as a ‘rite of passage’ ceremony instead for girls in the region under a program called the Tasaru Ntomonok Initiative. PHOTO/Paul Mununu
But how can the push to protect these girls and completely stop FGM happen?
“The term ‘female genital mutilation’ (also called ‘female genital cutting’ and ‘female genital mutilation/cutting’) refers to all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. Between 100 and 140 million girls and women in the world are estimated to have undergone such procedures, and 3 million girls are estimated to be at risk of undergoing the procedures every year. Female genital mutilation has been reported to occur in all parts of the world, but it is most prevalent in: the western, eastern, and north-eastern regions of Africa, some countries in Asia and the Middle East and among certain immigrant communities in North America and Europe,” says the United Nations sponsored World Health Organization.
The reasons given for the procedure vary but some families say the custom will enable their daughters to “stay safe” and away from early sexual activity. It is also thought in some communities that FGM allows daughters to find an ‘approving’ husband once they have reached what a village considers to be marriageable age, since ancient local customs have pushed for girls’ virginity before marriage.
Women News Network for ore