Female Genital Mutilation in Africa: Promising actions and persisting challenges

Understanding how and why harmful cultural and traditional practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) persist continues to enthuse many of the human rights actors. Often associated with maintaining cultural identity and preventing moral decline of the society by curtailing women’s sexuality, FGM remains a sad reality for millions of children and women in Africa. This study is designed to accomplish two objectives. The first is to document the experiences of seven African countries namely, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Sudan, Ghana and Kenya. The second objective of the study is to document and highlight some promising interventions that have contributed to catalyze and facilitate the fight against FGM at the regional, national and local levels. Six case studies that have contributed either at the level of policy or community mobilization are presented. The report urges those countries that have not fulfilled their commitment at this level should do so as soon as possible and confirms that nothing less than an integrated approach will produce the desired change.