Mobilization and Involvement of Health Personnel to Accelerate Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation

World Vision is one of the largest international Faith-based, non-governmental, relief and development NGO, with a focus on child wellbeing and a presence in nearly 100 countries worldwide.  In West Africa, World Vision is present in 8 countries and the subject of Female Genital Mutilation has been of grave concern and a key area of intervention in the region.

Female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures that involve altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons and is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women. 

The following data provide grim statistics of the reality:

• It is estimated that Over 140 million girls and women have undergone some form of FGM.
• If current trends continue, about 86 million additional girls will be subjected to the practice by 2030.
• FGM is mostly carried out on young girls sometime between infancy and age 15.
• FGM causes severe bleeding and health issues including cysts, infections, infertility as well as complications in childbirth and increased risk of newborn deaths.

World Vision’s work in FGM has resulted in men publicly denouncing and choosing uncircumcised women as brides; traditional leaders passing bye-laws attracting fines for those who circumcise their girl child; community based child protection mechanisms that provide reporting and referral pathways for girls at risk of being circumcised and working to ensure measures against violence are incorporated into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

WORLD VISION IS HEREBY CALLING ON WEST AFRICAN GOVERNMENTS, REGIONAL BODIES AND CIVIL SOCIETY TO:

1. Make good  on the promises they made at the 2014 Girl Summit in London to end FGM in a Generation.
2. Sustain the momentum and opportunity created by the Ebola Virus Disease to maintain community action banning of FGM and initiation rites even well into the recovery phase
3. Stem the practice of FGM as it swells the prevalence of child marriages in West African countries
4. Build the capacity of Public Health workers to detect early warning signs and girls at risk of Female Genital Mutilation and provide support services for such girls
5. Scale up of Parenting and Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) programmes
6. Implement National Child Protection Policies prohibiting the practice of FGM
7. Monitor ECOWAS and AU Member states reports for strategies to eradicate the practice in their respective countries

World Vision Contact:

Stella Nkrumah-Ababio | Child Protection and Advocacy Advisor, West Africa Region  | WARO  | www.wvi.org
Mobile Phone: +221 77-740 04 69  Office Phone: +221 338595700 | E-mail: stella_nkrumah-ababio@wvi.org