Men must fight FGM for their own good

The war on Female Genital Mutilation has been making steady gains but the practice remains stubborn. Kenya has been ranked among countries that have recorded a sharp decrease of FGM cases which fell from 26 to nine per cent in the last 30 years.

But data released during International Women’s Day portray a different picture with an estimated 15 per cent increase in the total number of survivors representing 30 million more girls and women, compared to findings released eight years ago.

In East Africa, Kenya trails behind its neighbours with Uganda recording the least cases of FGM at 0.3 per cent and Tanzania with 15 per cent.

Somalia leads in Africa with about 98 per cent of its women and girls aged between 15 to 49 years having undergone the cut.

Despite the concerted efforts by the government and humanitarian agencies to end the vice, FGM continues to satisfy backward cultural appetites. Traditions and social norms of some communities demand FGM to ensure that girls are “socially accepted” and “marriageable.”

This is unacceptable and illegal. Those following the fight against the crime will discern that perpetration has been mutating.

To defeat concerns that it was initially performed by crude methods that endanger the lives of victims, parents are now taking their girls to hospitals.

It is worrying that health professionals are aiding a procedure that harms girls’ bodies, dims their future and endangers their lives. This is a violation of both the law and Hippocratic Oath which commits them to protect and save lives.

To circumvent the law, some parents ensure girls are subjected to the practice at infancy. What is troubling is that parents rob daughters a fundamental choice about their bodies and future.

As Unicef Executive Director Catherine Russell warns, more girls are subjected to the practice at a younger age, many before their fifth birthday. This reduces the window to intervene.

Sadly, efforts to fight the vice have been perceived as the preserve of women rights crusaders and government. This has neglected an important constituency of stakeholders.

This war cannot be won without the involvement of men. As President William Ruto, said men must rise up and lead the war against mutilation of their mothers, daughters, sisters and future wives. Even for selfish reasons.