WHAT CAN PARLIAMENTS DO TO HELP ABANDON FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION?

Recognizing that Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is an act of violence against women and a violation of human rights, parliamentarians from more than 20 African countries gathered in Dakar on 4 and 5 December 2005 for a conference on FGM. They committed themselves to ensure the abandonment of this practice within one generation.

At the invitation of the National Assembly of Senegal and in cooperation with the African Parliamentary Union (APU), the IPU and UNICEF, the legislators highlighted the need for coordinated action by all of society - government, traditional leaders, religious leaders, civil society actors and parliamentarians - and the importance of placing such an endeavour within a more general framework of poverty eradication and development strategies. At the close of the conference, the participants unanimously adopted a declaration listing the different types of coordinated action needed.

The Rapporteur of the Dakar Conference was the former Minister for the Condition of Women of Senegal and current member of the Senegalese National Assembly,Mrs. Aminata Mbengue Ndiaye. After the meeting she went to the village of Ker Simbara to meet the men, women and religious and traditional representatives of this pioneering community which has decided to abandon the practice of excision.

INTERVIEW

Mrs. Aminata M. Ndiaye

Q.: Why did you want to show us this village?
Mrs. Aminata Mbengue Ndiaye: Because I am proud of these women and the people of Ker Simbala. The entire process of abandoning excision started here. I paid tribute to Imam Demedaora, who was the first to go out among the neighbouring villages to speak with the people. From the outset it was clear to everyone that this was a problem of communication and dialogue. To change traditions, you have to speak to the people, to let them know their rights and to teach them about democracy and human rights. That was at the basis of the transformation and the change in mentality. The women understood that they had rights, and this was particularly important in relation to their children.

Q.: In concrete terms, what happened?
A.M.N.: The rights to health and education were emphasized first. Building on a literacy programme, the village's men and women gained awareness, which allowed them to take a stand; that in turn really built up the political will. Right from the outset, Senegal ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. But it was necessary for the local environment to be conducive as well for laws to be adopted, in particular in relation to traditional practices. That was what forged the political will that permitted the adoption of a law in 1999.

Q.: Is adopting laws enough?
A.M.N.: The law alone is not enough. It must go hand in hand with education and awareness. In many communities, women's associations are active in making it understood to everyone that these are harmful traditional practices and in making known the repercussions for the girl child, her health and development. We now know that there are serious repercussions, which can even kill. Previously, this was all quite hush-hush; the issue was not discussed. But now people are aware that there is a law, which can include repressive measures if it is not respected. We must also make the police aware of the problem and train them, as the police can educate the people. We will also try to set up joint programmes along the border. Meetings on population questions are held by parliamentarians' groups along the borders with Guinea-Bissau, Gambia and Malior Mauritania, with those countries that have not yet adopted laws, to ensure some consultation on this question.

Q.: You listened to the villagers. What else did they tell you?
A.M.N.: In this village, which has abandoned excision, the people told me about their needs, including the basic problem of water. As parliamentarians, we can act as their spokespersons with the Government so that their needs in this area can be addressed.

For more information on the regional parliamentary conference entitled Violence against women, abandoning female genital mutilation: The role of national parliaments, organized by the African Parliamentary Union in cooperation with the IPU and UNICEF, visit our special web page