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Reproductive Health Matters
An international journal on sexual and reproductive health and rights
Volume 17, 2009 - Issue 34: Criminalisation of HIV, sexuality and reproduction
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Original Articles

The limited effectiveness of legislation against female genital mutilation and the role of community beliefs in Upper East Region, Ghana

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Pages 47-54 | Published online: 03 Dec 2009
 

Abstract

Female genital mutilation (FGM) has long been practised in many communities in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Although the Ghanaian state has a long tradition of supporting women's rights, it has not been successful in eradicating FGM, despite a law against the practice in an amendment to the Criminal Code in 1994 and the Domestic Violence Act 2003. This qualitative study in the Upper East Region examined the role of the state in stopping the practice of FGM through legal means, and why FGM continues to be practised in the community. In-depth interviews were conducted with six state officials, a circumciser, the president of a women's advocacy organisation, and semi-structured interviews with 32 community members. Although FGM has been criminalised, political support to ensure that the law is effectively implemented has been lacking. FGM education and eradication must be given more priority and significant funding by the Ghanaian state. For interventions to be effective, legal measures need to be combined with social measures. Communities practising FGM must be involved in the planning and implementation of anti-FGM interventions. Successful eradication of the practice is possible if education and dialogue between state institutions, gender and human rights groups and practising communities is strengthened.

Résumé

Beaucoup de communautés du Haut Ghana oriental pratiquent depuis longtemps la mutilation sexuelle féminine (MSF). En dépit de sa longue tradition de soutien aux droits de la femme, l'État ghanéen n'a pas réussi à éradiquer cette pratique, en dépit d'un amendement du Code pénal l'interdisant en 1994 et la loi sur la violence familiale de 2003. Cette étude qualitative dans la région du Haut Ghana oriental a examiné le rôle de l'État pour faire cesser la MSF par des moyens juridiques et s'est demandé pourquoi cette pratique perdurait. Des entretiens approfondis ont été menés avec six fonctionnaires, un exciseur, la présidente d'une organisation de plaidoyer pour les femmes, et des entretiens semi-structurés avec 32 membres de la communauté. Bien que la MSF soit criminalisée, le soutien politique à l'application réelle de la loi fait défaut. L'éducation en matière d'excision et l'éradication de cette pratique doivent recevoir une priorité plus élevée et un financement substantiel de la part de l'État. Pour que les interventions soient efficaces, les mesures légales iront de pair avec des mesures sociales. Il faut que les communautés qui pratiquent la MSF participent à la planification et l'application des interventions anti-excision. L'éradication réussie est possible en renforçant l'éducation et le dialogue entre les institutions étatiques, les groupes de défense des femmes et des droits de l'homme, et les communautés qui pratiquent l'excision.

Resumen

Desde hace mucho, se practica la mutilación genital femenina (MGF) en muchas comunidades de la región de Alta Ghana Oriental. Aunque el estado ghanés tiene una larga tradición de apoyar los derechos de las mujeres, no ha tenido éxito erradicando la MGF, a pesar de la ley en contra de su práctica en una enmienda al Código Penal en 1994 y la Ley de Violencia Doméstica de 2003. Este estudio cualitativo en Alta Ghana Oriental examinó la función del estado en detener la práctica de la MGF por medios jurídicos, y por qué se continúa dicha práctica en la comunidad. Se realizaron entrevistas a profundidad con seis funcionarios estatales, un circuncidador y el presidente de una organización promotora de mujeres, así como entrevistas semiestructuradas con 32 miembros de la comunidad. Aunque la MGF ha sido penalizada, falta el apoyo político para asegurar el cumplimiento de la ley. Se debe dar más prioridad a la educación sobre la MGF y la erradicación de ésta, y el estado ghanés debe asignar considerables fondos a estos esfuerzos. Para que las intervenciones sean eficaces, las medidas jurídicas deben combinarse con medidas sociales. Las comunidades donde se practica la MGF deben participar en la planificación e implementación de intervenciones anti-MGF. La erradicación de la práctica es posible si se fortalece la educación y el diálogo entre instituciones estatales, grupos de género y derechos humanos y las comunidades practicantes.

Acknowledgements

This work is based on Matilda Aberese Ako's MA thesis in Women Gender and Development, submitted to the Institute of Social Studies, Netherlands, sponsored by the Dutch government. Part of the information was presented at the annual meeting of the American Association of Public Health, Boston MA, in 2006. We wish to thank Professor Thanh-Dam Truong, who supervised the thesis, the Dutch government, and the Navrongo Health Research Centre, which provided financial support for the study. We wish to thank officials of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, the Upper East Regional Officer of DOVVSU and the President of the Ghanaian Association for Women's Welfare, who granted us interviews. We also thank the circumciser and other community members who willingly participated in the study.

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