Despite widespread awareness-raising campaigns, the phenomenon of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is still rife in the northern part of Benin. In Benin, as in other countries where excision is practiced on young girls and women, the practice is seen as a means of enslaving or “taming” girls’ sexuality. Female genital mutilation (FGM) is any procedure resulting in the partial or total removal of a woman’s external genitalia, or any other mutilation of the female genitalia performed for non-medical reasons. A study carried out in 1993 by the national committee in charge of harmful customary practices in the Republic of Benin reported a prevalence rate of 50%. Female genital mutilation occurs mainly in the north of the country, in the provinces of Atacora, Borgou, Donga and Zou. The Baribas, Bokos, Nagos, Peuhls and Wamas are the main ethnic groups practicing FGM.
In northern Benin, more specifically in the village of Sakabansi, in the commune of Nikki, several acts of physical harm to young girls and women have been orchestrated. Approximately 500km from Benin’s economic capital, these young girls aged between 5 and 19 continue to suffer the diktat of northern tradition when it comes to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). From an early age, these young girls from the commune of Kandi pay the price. Atacora is no exception. In this department in north-west Benin, bordering Togo to the west and Burkina Faso to the north, there are also pockets of resistance to this ancestral practice. For villagers, the harmattan period is the ideal time to commit the crime. For them, this is the ideal time to excise girls. As a result of their investigations, some heads of non-governmental organizations have identified a dozen excised girls in Sakabansi, a village in Kandi, and a similar number in Donwari and Polo.
Demonstration
To avoid the legal provisions in force in the Republic of Benin, those involved in this practice prefer to operate in neighboring territories. In the report published by the platform of civil society organizations in Benin, it is noted that the practice has been driven underground and has crossed Benin’s borders, as it is punishable by law in the country. In Ségbana in northeastern Benin, local residents testify candidly that “excisers take young girls across the border to be excised in northern Nigeria, where female genital mutilation is not yet illegal”. Towns in Niger and Burkina Faso are also cited as destinations for the keepers of this decried and condemned tradition. Apart from the northern part of the country, other parts of Benin are also affected by this practice. In the southern part, a few cases have also been recorded in the plateau. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of excised girls has fallen considerably over the last 15 years, but the new techniques being deployed by the industry are unfortunately no cause for celebration. For this reason, Benin’s legislators must equip the country with an appropriate legal arsenal to punish all those who practice this practice.
The law and its weaknesses
Benin has a well-developed legal arsenal which, if properly implemented, should enable it to put an end to this ancestral practice with disastrous consequences for its victims.Several mechanisms have been put in place to this end.These include the women’s rights movement and the fight against FGM.In the fight against Female Genital Mutilation in Benin, Law 2003-03, as it stands today, provides a solid foundation for action.At the top of the hierarchy of national standards, article 18 of the Constitution of December 11, 1990 guarantees every citizen the right to control his or her own body and physical integrity, and to be free from any form of torture. In terms of the national conventions ratified by Benin, article 2 stipulates “all acts of violence directed against the female sex and causing or likely to cause physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering”, and specifically refers to Female Genital Mutilation under the main law 2003-03.Unfortunately, excision is still far from being eradicated in Benin, especially in rural northern regions, due to the new form of the practice.In some parts of the north, over 70% of women and girls under the aegis of the new form still suffer this violation of their fundamental rights.Since there is as yet no legal provision prohibiting cross-border FGM.In national legislation, Law N° 2003-03 does not directly address the issue of cross-border FGM.Thus, we note that the country has no specific legislation or other laws relating to FGM perpetrated on or by Beninese citizens in other countries.
Recommendations
With thousands of women and girls at risk of FGM every year in Benin, it is more imperative than ever that efforts be stepped up to put an end to this scourge. For this, the responsibility of all actors at various levels is essential to eradicate the phenomenon. Benin’s governments must therefore :
- Authorize the government to disseminate information in hospitals to inform citizens about the dangers of Female Genital Mutilation.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.
- The responsibilities of both public and private health structures are 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.
- the authorities are called upon to make available to all Beninese citizens a toll-free number enabling them to alert the competent authorities in the event of observations of female genital mutilation in a region.
- Organize annual campaign periods during which town criers will go from district to district or from village to village to raise awareness among the population during harmatan periods.
- Seize every opportunity to discuss the dangers of FGM with women, especially at family planning meetings. The challenge would not be to force communication, but to get them to grasp the darker side of the issue.
- Draw up action plans to modify the social environment in such a way as to encourage the total abandonment of FGM.
