The Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement (RFLD) is taking the opportunity of International Day of the Girl, celebrated this Tuesday, October 11, to once again raise the worrying issue of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Benin. With many girls and women still suffering from this scourge despite the fight to curb it, this women’s rights organization believes it is imperative that efforts be stepped up to put an end to FGM. On the sidelines of a workshop it is organizing from October 11 to 12 in Natitingou (northern Benin) for CSOs to share their experiences and raise awareness of the scourge, the RFLD has made 9 recommendations to put an end to the problems of FGM. The workshop was funded by the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF).
9 RFLD’s recommandations
- Government authorization for the dissemination of information in hospitals to inform citizens about the dangers of FGM. This information should be passed on in almost all national languages.
- Carry out awareness-raising campaigns in rural areas of the country, in particular in the departments of Donga, Atacora, Borgou and Alibori.
- Those in charge of both public and private health structures have a duty to welcome victims of female genital mutilation and provide them with the most appropriate care.
- The legislator is called upon to condemn non-reporting or any form of complicity with a fine commensurate with the act committed.
- The legislator must also institute a law against cross-border genital mutilation. In general, the progress made in strengthening the legal and institutional framework for FGM is commendable.
- Government authorities need to invest more financial resources in human capital, especially in the areas of integrated education and sexual and reproductive health. This will make it possible to track down this phenomenon and boost it outside Benin.
- Ensure the effective application of the new law on sexual offences to discourage this phenomenon.
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