Female circumcision remains deeply rooted in Kenyan culture
Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) – The circumcision of women remains a common traditional and religious practice in Kenya and continues to take various forms, organisations involved in combating the practice said on Tuesday.
To combat the pratice, the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA announced the launch of a new programme to accelerate efforts to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Kenya.
The €4 million Stop FGM Now! – (Komesha FGM SASA!) programme is a three-year initiative funded by the European Union and implemented by UNFPA, in partnership with Kenyan civil society organisations.
The announcement comes as the world marked International Day of Human Rights and marking the end of 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. FGM, a severe form of gender-based violence (GBV,) stems from deeply rooted gender inequalities that violate the rights of women and girls and cause profound physical and psychological harm
Despite significant progress, FGM remains a deeply rooted challenge in Kenya. While national prevalence among women aged 15-49 has declined from 32 per cent in 2003 to 15 per cent in 2022, certain regions still record alarmingly high rates exceeding 70 per cent.
In Kenya, persistent challenges such as deep-seated cultural and religious beliefs, economic incentives, and emerging trends such as medicalization and cross-border practices hinder eradication efforts.
With the EU’s support, the Stop FGM Now! – Komesha FGM SASA! programme aims to address these challenges through the engagement of frontline activists and civil society organisations while also collaborating with national and county institutions.
European Union Ambassador to Kenya, Henriette Geiger said, “By partnering with frontline activists in Kenya, communities will be actively engaged in delivering vital FGM prevention and response services and ensuring that survivors play a meaningful and active role in shaping and contributing to all efforts aimed at ending FGM.”
Kenya’s legal framework, including the Prohibition of FGM Act (2011), provides a strong foundation for combating FGM.
“Through this partnership with the EU, UNFPA reaffirms its commitment to realizing a Kenya where no girl or woman faces the trauma of FGM,” said Anders Thomsen, UNFPA Representative in Kenya.
“This programme will prioritise the voices of women and girls, fostering an environment where their rights and aspirations take precedence over harmful practices.”
In 2024, an estimated 4.4 million girls - or more than 12,000 each day - were identified as being at risk of female genital mutilation around the world. The Stop FGM Now! – Komesha FGM SASA! programme will work to support FGM elimination efforts in seven hotspot counties with high rates of FGM.
-0- PANA AO/MA 11Dec2024
