Despite the ongoing campaigns to end female genital mutilation, the culture is still being practised.
According to 2020 statistics, about four million girls have undergone FGM.
Generally, 21 per cent of girls and women aged between 15 and 49 have undergone a form of genital mutilation.
Although the rate has shown a positive decline in recent years, a lot has to be done to end this culture that endangers our girls.
Among the discriminatory reasons FGM is practised is a perceived need to control female sexuality.
Female genital cutting is thought to ensure that a girl behaves properly, saves her virginity until she gets married and remains faithful to her husband.
This discriminatory reason should be challenged.
Girls should be educated on their rights to decide what happens to their bodies.
In most communities that practice this culture, it's taboo to speak out about the risks that come with this practice hence the younger generation is blinded from the reality of this perilous act
In an African setting, many communities believe that a child belongs to the whole community, this culture is usually merited, especially in shaping the morals of community members.
However, sometimes the community imposes adverse cultures that must be adhered to by all its members and this is where unlawful practices like FGM get promoted.
Girls should, therefore, be aware of their right to protection against any harmful practice that can risk their health.
FGM has lasting physical and mental consequences that need to be discussed so that girls and women no longer have to suffer in silence.
In most communities that practise this culture, it's taboo to speak out about the risks that come with this practice, hence the younger generation is blinded from the reality of this perilous act.
The best way of making the girls aware of these risks is by explaining to them through the school curriculum as teachers tend to be more open and freer than parents.
Through education, the community members will understand that religion does not demand FGM on girls.
Some people believe that Islam advocates cutting to ensure that a girl stays virtuous and pure, which is not true.
Many girls have lost their lives to this practice and it must be stopped as it violates the girls’ rights.
This is the time for local administrators to cooperate and work together with the government to condemn this primitive culture.
In some communities that hold on to this culture, the boys are restricted from associating or even marrying any woman who has not gone through the cutting.
In such cases, community elders should advocate interethnic marriages.
The government's efforts in the fight against this practice should also be backed up by every individual to make sure the awareness is created even in the most interior areas to protect girls.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
