KENYA: Female genital mutilation banned

Summary: Kenya has become the latest African country to make female genital mutilation illegal. The practice is still widespread in Africa, despite African Union opposition

[12 September 2011] - Kenya has become the latest African country to ban female genital mutilation, with the passing of a law making it illegal to practice or procure it or take somebody abroad for cutting. The law even prohibits derogatory remarks about women who have not undergone FGM. Offenders may be jailed or fined or both.

Members of the Kenyan Women Parliamentary Association said it was a historic day. Linah Kilimo, its chairperson, said the move would improve school attendance. And Sophia Abdi Noor said:

"I have fought for 18 years to achieve this legislation. Today is independence day for women. Men got their independence in 1963 – but today women have achieved independence from the cruel hands of society."

Unicef congratulated Kenya. Its child protection specialist in Kenya, Zeinab Ahmed said:

"It is a great day for the girl child of Kenya. FGM is a serious violation of the rights of the child and of women. This bill gives an indication from government it is not just a cultural practice that can go on. The government has taken a bold step and will not tolerate any more violations. I applaud the work of Kewopa, the ministry of gender and the many other partners who have worked tirelessly to ensure that girls are protected from FGM."

Nobody imagines this means FGM will never take place again in Kenya, but making it illegal is a massive step towards changing attitudes and giving strength to those who oppose the practice. Kenya follows a number of African governments in outlawing the practice. According to the Pan African news agency, at the time of the African Union summit in June, which proposed prohibition of FGM, Benin, Ivory Coast, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Niger, Nigeria, Kenya, Central African Republic, Senegal, Chad, Tanzania, Togo and Uganda already had legislation against it.

But in nine countries (including some of those where it is illegal) it is still widely practised. In Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Mali, Sierra Leone, Somalia and Sudan, 85 per cent of women undergo mutilation.

Further Information:

• KENYA: Legislation failing to curb FGM/C (3 June 2011)
• ETHIOPIA: Pastoralists battling FGM/C (26 January 2011) 
• MAURITANIA: Fatwa alone will not stop FGM/C (29 January 2010) 
• AFRICA: Holistic approaches key to ending FGM/C - study (18 November 2010)
  
• EUROPE: Ending FGM - a strategy for the EU Institutions (Amnesty International, April 2010)
• New 'medial' trend with FGM disturbs UN agency (6 February 2007)
• Muslim leaders join battle against female circumcision (8 December 2006)
• CRIN's Forms of Violence page on **Harmful traditional practices** 
• More on children's rights in Kenya