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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