Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs weather for cultural, religious or other non-medical reasons.
This harmful practice is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women. It reflects deep-rooted inequality, and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against women.
Where FGM is a social convention (social norm), the social pressure to conform to what others do and have been doing, as well as the need to be accepted socially and the fear of being rejected by the community, are strong motivations to perpetuate the practice.
In Ethiopia though the constitution of the country does not directly address FGM it contains several statements that enable to protect the practice. For instance, while article 16 protects all citizens against bodily harms, article 18 protects everyone against cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
Criminal code 414/2004 is the main law governing FGM in Ethiopia and as to the code endangering life or causing bodily injury or mental impairment of a pregnant woman or new-born child as a result of the application of Harmful Traditional Practices (HTPs) known by the medical profession to be harmful.
This criminal code states that the transmission of communicable disease through HTPs is subject to penalty and performing FGM on a woman of any age is punishable by imprisonment (where performance of this sentence can be suspended by the courts) for not less than three months or a fine of not less than 500 Birr.
Yalem Tsegay Women, Child and Youth Minister said that Ethiopia has been undertaking a lot of measurements to abolish FGM by putting in place various policies and proclamation.
According to her, as the activity of this harmful traditional practice is the violation of human right of women and children, the Ministry is working in collaboration with nongovernmental and social institutions to address the challenges.
She stressed that as this harmful traditional practice cannot be cut back merely by the efforts of the Ministry, the government has created an enabling environment for organization such as religious, educational, health and justice institutions to take part and play crucial role in anti FGM endeavors.
She underscored that though scope of the severity and the attitude of people towards the practice varies from community to community, over the past few years an encouraging achievements are registered and the practice has been reducing significantly throughout the country. “We plan to end FGM by 2025.”
Mentioning that the Ministry is working with Inter Religious Council of the country, the Minister said that the Council has played a great role in alerting the community and reducing the practice.
HTPs practiced on females and children harm the victims physically, socially and psychologically and in turn it harms the country at all, she further noted.
Pastor Zerihun Degu Secretary of the Inter Religious Council on his part said that to reduce such inhuman treatments, the Council has been working jointly with the Ministry and the Norwegian Church Aid.
As to him, as the goal of the religious institution is to make life best for all human beings, the Council strictly condemns any HTPs occurred against women and child.
Member of Afar State Inter Religious Council Sheikh Abubaker Yesuf on his part said that the practice of FGM has no religious support; rather the practitioners commit a sin unintentionally. It is a violation of a person’s rights to health and security and by no means, it is right.
Thus, concurrent to setting a policy, the government should further strength its punishment mechanism, he opined.
The Ethiopian Herald April 16, 2019
BY TAMERU REGASA
