Behavioural change is best solution to female genital mutilation

Several commentaries in the last couple of weeks on how female genital mutilation should be eliminated are laughable. This is because those commenting don’t understand the magnitude of FGM, which is deeply embedded in the culture of the Sabiny and other ethnic groups.

There have been young men and women who, when stopped by parents from undergoing circumcision because they cannot foot the bills related to organising the cultural fete; perform the surgery themselves, the excruciating pain notwithstanding; that is the extent to which the practice is treasured. In some places, uncircumcised married women give in to pressure to get circumcised as the only way to save their marriages.

The practice is now done clandestinely in the thick of the dark Mt. Elgon forest reserve.
My suggestion therefore does not lie in the powerful laws promulgated to fight the vice but rigorous campaigns aimed at behavioural change. According to statistics, FGM, is still predominant in areas with very little or no access to any form of communication.

Joel Cherop,
cherop1joel@yahoo.co.uk