Linking communities in Africa to address FGM 

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is highly practiced in eastern part of Uganda, particularly the Sebei region and among the Pokots in Amudat the neighboring District of the Karamoja region where many young girls are forced into this dangerous practice. 

It is believed to be a rite of passage making a girl’s transition to woman hood. However, the process is very painful and can lead to severe health complications, infections, bleeding even death. 

According to reports over 50% of the girls in Sebei and Amudat undergo Female Genital Mutilation, with some at a very tender age of ten years old being forced into the practice. 

The practice is always performed under unsanitary conditions increasing the risk of infection and other health conditions. Despite the resistance from some community members who view it as an important cultural tradition, Greater Sebei Community empowerment Project is putting much effort to liaise with, health workers, local activists, and government authorities, Institutions like Schools and churches to end the cut. 

Greater Sebei Community Empowerment Project further works in partnership with The Christian Partners Development Agency (CDPA) based in Kenya, to share experiences on how they can end the practice using the approaches below. CPDA has over 30 years of experience advocating for young girls and women, addressing gender-based violence that includes FGM, early marriages, domestic abuse, sexual violence, rape and incest in Kenya. Both organisations work in similar areas of violence against women and girls and their individual experiences contribute to reducing FGM rates in Sebei region by 50% in ten years to come. 

• Continuous door to door sensitisation 
• Continuous FGM Hot spot sensitisation
• Introduction of school debates for both genders to discuss the impact that FGM has on its victims 
• Community awareness raising through road shows 
• Using local community Radio shows both local and national level to talk about FGM 
• Recruitment of anti FGM Ambassadors in the community and schools  
• Recognition of Anti FGM ambassadors. Volunteers are trained and given the tools to raise awareness on FGM in their communities. They graduate with a standard level achievement
• Holding community dialogue regularly to keep the anti-FGM message alive