UNESCO, in close collaboration with the
Ngorongoro District Council and the Council of Masaai traditional
leaders, will conduct a large campaign to intensify efforts to address
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)in Ngorongoro, particularly during the
FGM high season of December 2017 when girls go home from school and
parents take the opportunity to circumcise them. The session is a
continuation of a similar campaign held in June 2017 where trained
campaigners managed to rescue four girls who were in the verge of being
mutilated in Ngorongoro district.
The December campaign will consist of three clusters:
1.A School-Based Campaign, targeting students, teachers, and school-parent committees in 28 schools (4 secondary);
2.A Community-Based campaign, targeting
mostly parents and caretakers in 29 selected villages in Loliondo
division through parent/caretakers village/sub-village sensitization
meetings.
3.A Public Campaign through the Loliondo
FCommunity Radiwhere a series of programmes will be broadcasted
engaging community leaders, law enforcers, medical officials, religious
leaders, former ngaribas (circumcisers) and young people.
Expected to reach around 70,000 people,
the campaign will kick-off with a 2-day orientation workshop in Wasso on
5 and 6December 2017. The workshop will bring together 65 campaigners
and facilitators composed by district and ward officials, Maasai
spiritual leaders and Maasai leaders to guide them on how best to
deliver key messages to the targeted populationas well as organize for
sheltering girls in need.
In the Maasai community, the practice of
female genital mutilation is deeply rooted in cultural practices and
customary beliefs, part of the ritual passing from childhood to
adulthood. According to district health statistics, in 2015, 90%
(1,375) of the1693 Maasai women who gave birth at health facilities were
circumcised. The Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey 2015/16
indicates that Arusha ranks third nationally on the regions where FGMis
practised, with a41% prevalence, right after Manyara and Dodoma.
Since 2015, UNESCO has been collaborating
with government and traditional leadersin Ngorongoro district to
strengthen the capacities of community-based structures to address
sexual and reproductive health related issues including FGM & early
marriage, facing girls and young women, as well as promoting girls
education with a particular focus on school retention. Using the
socio-cultural approach, UNESCO’s initiatives has gained community
support and achieved notable impact including change of mind-set of some
traditional leaders and more than 30 Ngaribas who are now strong
advocates against the practice.
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