LONDON, Mar 27 (IPS) – Earlier this month, a UNICEF record on the occurrence of women genital mutilation (FGM) revealed that while some success is happening, the rate of development continues to be sluggish – dragging populace development, specifically in position where FGM is most typical.
The record exposed that over 230 million ladies and ladies worldwide have actually gone through FGM – a 15 percent rise, or 30 million even more ladies and ladies, contrasted to the information launched 8 years earlier. The biggest share of the global problem is located in African nations, with over 144 million situations, complied with by over 80 million in Asia and over 6 million in the Middle East.
As the 68th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) ended recently I ended up being especially nervous for the ladies and ladies of The Gambia. As supporters from around the globe got here in New York to participate in the yearly occasion organized by the United Nations, our enjoyment was rapidly liquified.
Just hours previously, we had actually gained from our Gambian coworkers that spiritual leaders — primarily males consisting of political leaders — were electing to repeal a legislation passed practically one decade earlier by previous President Yayah Janneh, which outlawed the technique of FGM. In that time a legislation that has actually conserved hundreds of ladies and ladies undertaking this ravaging civils rights misuse.
It came as a shock. However, as globe leaders rushed on what to do or claim adhering to the information it was African ladies consisting of Jaha Dukureh from Safe Hands for Girls, Fatou Baldeh MBE from Women in Liberation and Leadership, Nimco Ali OBE from The Five Foundation, that revealed management throughout among our most difficult times.
Survivors and protestors were unrelenting in our searches. In a couple of days, most of us required to the media, in addition to anywhere we can collect within our neighborhoods to claim no to rescinding the legislation.
This is a turning point for the FGM project, which can have also additional adverse effects for Gambian ladies and ladies. This battle is not simply a phone call to repeal the legislation on FGM yet if this demand does well, we are visiting an extensive curtail on various other essential legal rights of ladies and ladies.
Fatou Kinteh, the Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs claimed in a declaration at a conference at CSW68 that: “Women cannot be equipped if their legal rights remain to be breached“. Yet, this same government is putting them at risk.
World leaders must confront so-called religious leaders too including Imam Fatty who issued this very carefully planned fatwa, even while FGM is still illegal. Leaders like Imam Fatty are very determined to roll back the progress made in the Gambia in the last 10 years. His pronouncement has already cost lives. Because immediately after his statements many families were already receiving threats to have their daughters cut.
I hope that people like UK Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron now stand up to support Gambian women. In 2014, it was under his leadership that the Girl Summit co-hosted with UNICEF themed “A future free from FGM and child and forced marriage” took place. This helped to catalyse the groundbreaking work that gave rise to the ban. During that Summit, as the guest speaker, I was very pleased to hear of action and funding commitments.
As an FGM survivor activist, a global advocate and speaker, and a mother, I am calling on him, as well as all government representatives around the world to immediately release direct funding to women like me – grassroots activists working on the frontlines – to help with this fight.
Leaders should also sanction those who support the call to repeal the ban on FGM, while also finally calling on nations like Sierra Leone to enact laws and implement sustained policies that go towards protecting and safeguarding girls and women from FGM once and for all.
Alimatu Dimonekene MBE, is a leading women and girls rights advocate in the UK: https://agdgetitdone.co.uk/aboutalimatu
IPS UN Bureau
Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
Follow IPS News UN Bureau on Instagram
© Inter Press Service (2024) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2024/03/27/36339