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USAID PRB
4th International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGC
Washington DCFeb. 6, 2007
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Promotion for abandoning FGC in Benin:
Strategies and results
ByClaire HOUNGAN AYEMONNA
MagistratePresident of the Foundation Regard d’Amour
Former Minister of Family, Social Protection and Solidarity in BENIN
Member of International Association of Women Judges (AIFJ)
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Content
Introduction
Strategies for promoting the abandonment of FGC
Campaign results
Law prohibiting FGC in Benin
Consequences
Recommendations
Conclusion
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Introduction
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Overview of FGC
Female Genital Cutting (FGC): one of the social and economic problems to resolve in BENIN
17 percent of women in Benin practice FGC (EDS 2001)
Highest FGC prevalence areas are in the north, particularly in Alibori, Borgou, Atacora, and Donga Departments (45 to 50 percent)
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Strategies for Promotion of Abandonning FGC
In 2001, government developed a plan, which included fighting against FGC
Department of Family, Social Protection and Solidarity was appointed as first entity responsable for FGC programme
Next step was the elaboration of a national programme with main objective of abandoning FGC
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Program Objectives
Reduce and eventually eradicate FGC in Benin
Improve women’s well-being
Contribute to the reduction of mother and infant mortality
Work to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
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Program Activities
Campaign to raise awareness funded by the government, UNFPA, WHO and UNICEF: Production of info on FGC: definition, forms
of FGC, consequences on women’s health Public lectures with traditional, community,
and religious leaders Workshops with excisors, local government
officers, policemen, judges, and school girls and boys
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Campaign to raise awareness
Training of community and medical workers, community and NGO leaders
Press campaigns: Press conferences Broadcasts on radio (public, private, rural)
and TV Articles in newspapers
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Framing FGC: Approaches
Scientific approch: FGC=amputation of a part of a woman’s genital organs
Legal and social approach: FGC is a Violation of the constitution
Violation of CEDAW
Violation of African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child
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Framing FGC: Approaches
FGC undermines womens’ physical integrity
FGC must be prohibited according to the dispositions of the penal law
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Campaign Results
Support of many leaders
In public lectures Bishops, Imans, Tribal and traditional leaders relied on Bible, Koran and customs to convince poeple that no religion can justify FGC
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Campaign Results (cont.)
Conversion of many excisors
Legal action against some excisors
Adoption and implementation of a special law preventing and repressing all forms of FGC in Benin
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Law Prohibiting FGC in Benin
Law N°2003-03 of march 3rd, 2003 prohibited FGC in Benin
Law → result of many years of struggle against FGC
Law → result of joint action among civil society – government – parliamentarians
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Who can be prosecuted?
Perpetrators of FGC (excisors);
Accomplices (people who call the excisor, who help or assist him/her, who give instructions or instruments to the excisor)
People who don’t do anything to prevent the act
People who don’t denounce the act.
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What about sentences?
Imprisonment from 6 months to 5 years; 20 years in case of death of the victim
Fine from 50.000 F CFA (100 $US) to 6 millions F CFA (12,000 $US)
In case of repeat offense, no suspended sentence
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Other dispositions
Medical staff must receive and take care of all victims of FGC
They must also inform law enforcement offices
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Some Consequences
Fewer people practice FGC, however
FGC has become a covert activity like abortion
People do it in secret Either they cross the border to do it,
or they call the excisor from a neighboring country
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Recommendations
All African countries where FGC is practiced should adopt a special law
Awareness raising must be done before and after the law is approved
As much as possible, organize across country borders synchronized campaigns to promote the abandonment of FGC
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Conclusion
Abandoning FGC must be considered as a long and time-consuming process
We need more commitment from NGOs and governments for better results
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Conclusion
Put our hands together to throw out women’s mutilation from each and every country!
Thank you for your attention