I am a Somali girl who was forced to undergo a traditional ritual. My family forced me into circumcision two years ago. To date it still pains. I hate my parents and the circumciser who often visits our home. What can I do to stop other girls from going through the same torture.
Zahara
Dear Zahara,
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a harmful traditional practice that is prevalent in a number of communities. In Kenya, we have three laws that have tried to address the vice. Chapter V of the Current Constitution provides for protection of fundamental rights and freedoms. It provides for right to life, liberty of a person and protection from inhuman and degrading treatment.
Secondly, Section 14 of the Children’s Act 2001 provides that no person shall subject a child to female circumcision, early marriage or other cultural rites, customs or traditional practices that are likely to negatively affect a child’s life, health, social welfare, dignity, physical or psychological development.
Contravention of this law is punishable by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine of Sh50,000. The act of FGM amounts to grievous harm and the Penal Code Section 234 states that any person who unlawfully does grievous harm to another is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for life.
Againsts the law
What your parents and the circumciser did was against the provisions of the three laws. You need to seek physical and psychological treatment. Identify a children’s officer or a social worker near you and share your experience. Ask him or her to assist you access medical attention. There are also community-based organisations that assist and rehabilitate survivors of FGM.
Your parents and the circumciser broke the law. You, therefore, need to lodge a complaint at your nearest police station after receiving treatment.
The children’s officer can guide you through this.It may be difficult to charge your parents with a crime and see them taken to prison, but taking legal action against them and the circumciser will serve as deterrence for other members of your community to continue with this harmful practise. It will also ensure no girl undergoes the same ordeal.
Other than taking legal action, your community needs to be sensitised and empowered on the need to promote gender equity to stop these harmful traditional practices. Information about organisations that help with educating communities can be found in Government offices.
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