Campaign to End Female Genital Mutilation is Taking Root in Kenya

A U.K.-funded program is helping to end female genital mutilation (FGM), starting in Kenya, according to Positive.News . This independent news site focuses on positive stories and recently interviewed members of The…

Jessica Marie BaumgartnerJul 12, 20232 min read

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Her new approach is survivor-centric. This displays

FGM

as a violent practice that strips women of their

Human rights

.

FGM is deeply rooted in cultural traditions because it is seen as a rite of passage. Uncut women are considered “dirty and unmarriageable.”

But Hussein noted that “language is key.”

By focusing on survivors, groups of women can come together and share their stories and explore the harm done by the act of female circumcision. Hussein stated, “Putting a sharp object to a child’s genitalia is an act of sexual assault.”

According to the WHO, FGM causes severe bleeding, infections, urinary problems, severe pain, shock, increased childbirth complications, and even death. It states, “FGM has no health benefits, and it harms girls and women in many ways.”

The psychological effects are also noted in the Positive.News article. Survivors have described experiencing depression, anxiety, PTSD, anger, substance abuse, and relationship complications.

An estimated 200 million women have experienced FGM. The girl generation based their operations in Nairobi last March and began to work with just 20 women, but they have a five-year plan to change this tradition and receive public support to end FGM.

On Monday, the group tweeted about their progress stating “@TheGirlGen is conducting a groundbreaking training on cross-border issues of #FGM in the political context of ECOWAS in Saly, Senegal. With the active participation of 25 members of the Senegalese National Assembly contributing.”

They are also holding a conference to aid the cause next week at the Kigali Convention Center in Rwanda.