It’s Time to Implement the Anti FGM Law. A Call against Cultural Violence

By

Sylvia Samanya

Just like any other African country, Uganda has numerous tribes, cultures and cultural leaders. Some cultures have signified strong co-existence with the government policies and laws though a few are proving the human rights body, the civil society, legislatures, Religious leaders and women activists toothless barking dogs. Cultural practices in certain tribes like the Female Genital Mutilation among the Sabinys must be condemned.

The Saturday Vision, 6th November, 2010, reported that 200 girls have been lined up in the districts of Bukwo and Kapchorwa for circumcision come, December 2010. For God’s sake, this is an inhuman and myopic act since the practice targets cutting particular parts of the female organs. According to that report, some victims over bleed, die; get birth complications besides getting exposed to dangerous illnesses.

This practice also destroys the self esteem of girls. Arguably FGM is not undertaken with the intention of inflicting harm but, it’s damaging physical, sexual, and psychological effects make it an act of violence against women and the girl child. In the 21st first century, no Ugandan or African should be losing life to culture.

Despite the recent publications in the press exposing the awaiting evil to be administered to innocent girls, no one has risen up to intercept it. NGO’s are busy writing reports about the bad education system, democracy, while other politicians are bickering to disband the electoral commission, but this is also a real issue to be confronted –as it subjects the citizens into absolute misery.

For how long shall we witness this kind of carnage while we bury our heads in the sand? Issues of culture are indeed very complex and sensitive. But I am also sure that before this law was passed there was massive consultation, education and sensitization about it especially in the areas where the practice is commonly carried out.

The Sabiny community especially the cut women that have continuously scolded and thrown scorn to the girls who are not cut do it because of ignorance. These are actions and statements of intimidation, insult and dehumanization to make their colleagues feel less human and not worth in society thus being called outcasts. This is, possibly, why the reason other girls present themselves for the ritual? This should stop as it is abuse of human rights!

The act involves the removal or cutting of the external female genitalia using the razorblades as the instruments of the ritual without medical necessity and usually performed on adolescents girls. In name of culture, this ritual often lives these girls with harmful physical and psychological torture; this act violates the rights to non-discrimination, health, and bodily integrity.

It was clearly stated that the Sbiny are unfazed by the Law against FGM. The elders in Bukwo and Kapchorwa districts confidently say how they swear that the whole tribe would rather move to prison than abolish a custom they inherited from their ancestors. Now these are strong sentiment statements but then who is who and who is above the law? Does this community know the interpretation of the law in the country? This is purely the absence of Government when it legislates and fails to enforce.

Dear members of parliament, what use is it for you to work tirelessly and pass laws that are never embraced and accepted by the natives. Is it going to be a habit to pass laws for the sake of, or those that the local community can never adhere to? It hurts because if this is what the Sabiny community is saying about the law (defiant), why then was it passed prematurely? Where the members of parliament from Bukwo and Kapchorwa not present in parliament while this went on? One of the elders responded “a law can not stop the cultural rite of the Sabiny people unless the community agrees to it”. Was this law not drafted and passed in consultation with the Sabiny community? All these are questions that are in people’s mind.

Worse still is the politics at play as expressed by the Vice – chairman of Bukwo district? He has clearly put it our faces “Myself I will not talk about it because I know it will land me into the political dustbin”, says Chelangat. It is also said that the same happened to former MP- Dr. Steven Chebroti who lost his parliamentary sit in 2000 when he brought the issue in his Tingey constituency. For how long are we going to play cheap politics? People should be educated to know the harm this practice infringes on the health of these girls. These effects can even be years after.

This is equally a very sensitive political period and every politician is on the look out for votes. If the politicians are not willing to talk about it, where are the legislators who proposed and drafted the anti- FGM law, Mama Miria Matembe, Justice Faith Mwondha, Mama Janet Museveni, Prof. (Barrister) Sylvia Tamale, former V.P. Spacioza Kazibwe, Hon. Rebecca Kadaga and many others, the civil society, the women NGOs, the women activities, and the church leaders, the human rights activist? Let’s come out and condemn this act. The ant- Female Genital Mutilation law is in place and the charges are very clear. These girls like any other women have a right. The United Nations should put the government to task so as to ensure strict implementation and enforcement of this law.
We can not quietly sit back and watch accepting it as any other normal and healthy cultural practice.

Culture is naturally known as a superior apparatus for propagating good morals in society. It was reported that after the ritual, many girls drop out of school to get married. Where is the ministry of education? Parents and guardians this has to stop! This practice threatens the lives of girls and women and violates their human right to life, liberty, and security of the person.

As the clock ticks, to December while the Kupsabiny communities sharpen their mutilation instruments, lets all join up and condemn this cultural practice. Government should be put to task. Laws should be effective to the natives and not to just impress the nation and the international community while they can not be implemented. No one is above the law. If this is law then it should be enforced.

The writer is a Humanitarian Worker
Department of Refugees,
Office of the Prime Minister.