- Health experts and rights activists have pleaded with Kenyan doctors and nurses to halt female genital mutilation in their clinics, saying performing the cut was making it more acceptable in communities.
The officials said although Kenya outlawed FGM in girls under 18 in 2001, the harmful practice is still carried out in other communities. The UN statistics said 32 percent of women aged 15 to 49 had undergone the rite in Kenya.
Cutting or excision of young girls’ genitals is seen as a cultural or religious rite of passage in some communities. The vaginal opening is sewn up after the excision, leaving a small opening for sexual intercourse, childbirth and natural bodily functions.
United Nations Children’s Fund, child protection regional advisor Margie de Monchy said the value of medicalisation is being undermined because it is legitimising the procedure. “A healthy procedure for the cutting won’t stop the long-term effects,” she said.
Traditionally performed by midwives and religious leaders, FGM is increasingly being done by medical professionals, reports have said.
Last year, the United Nations passed a resolution that called FGM a violation of the rights of women and said it constituted irreparable, irreversible scars on women.
The resolution also said female circumcision increases the risk of HIV transmission, as well as maternal and infant mortality.
The World Health Organisation estimates that 100 million to 140 million girls and women have been circumcised worldwide, saying another 3 million girls are at risk of being circumcised each year.
The United Nations Children's Fund said the practice is extremely painful and traumatising, and can result in prolonged bleeding, a higher risk of HIV infection, infertility and even death.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
front page
| news
| countries
| archive
| currencies
| news alerts login
| about afrol News
| contact
| advertise
| español