International Day of the Girl Child | The Coalition for Adolescent Girls

International Day of the Girl Child | The Coalition for Adolescent Girls.

Marginalising women in Somali politics / Library / Home – AWID

Marginalising women in Somali politics / Library / Home – AWID.

Liberian Lawmakers Oversee Budget With Eye Toward Women and Girls | NDI

Liberian Lawmakers Oversee Budget With Eye Toward Women and Girls | NDI.

Thousands rally in Tunisia for women’s rights / Library / Home – AWID

Thousands rally in Tunisia for women’s rights / Library / Home – AWID.

Pastor Rapes 5 Sisters And Claims It Was On Orders of ‘Holy Spirit’

Pastor Rapes 5 Sisters And Claims It Was On Orders of ‘Holy Spirit’.

The new provisional constitution of Somalia outlaws the circumcision of girls

The war torn Somalia Government has outlawed circumcision, the so called Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) with its new constitution. The draft amended constitution’s  article 15: 5 -Liberty and Security of Person; comprehended that circumcision of girls is a cruel and degrading customary practice, and is tantamount to torture. Hence, it  prohibited the circumcision of girls.

This has attracted people all over the world in a hope to see the practice, which is a cause for complicated sexual and reproductive health and rights in the horn’s country minimized. While many are still doubting the acceptance and applicability as it has been highly linked to religion, chastity and purity.

Notwithstanding this, the constitution and the next policies, strategies and laws to criminalize the practice needs to be strongly accompanied by the indispensable awareness-raising campaigns, systematically designed community dialogue that can lead to behavioral change to abandon the practice.  Strategic engagement with the wider community representatives, religious leaders and civic societies, especially focused on women and children in the country will also lead to a robust change.

copy of the new constitution can be downloaded here in PDF

By Alemneh Tadele

<a href="http://dayofthegirlsummit.com">
<img title="Day of the Girl Summit" 
src="http://dayofthegirlsummit.com/wp-content/
uploads/2012/07/dotg-648x60.png" width="468" 
height="60" /></a>

Day of the Girl Summit

Day of the Girl Summit.

https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/9383/709830PUB0EPI0067926B09780821395646.pdf?sequence=1

https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/9383/709830PUB0EPI0067926B09780821395646.pdf?sequence=1.

Eastern Africa: Displaced Populations Report (Issue 11) – Zunia.org

Eastern Africa: Displaced Populations Report (Issue 11) – Zunia.org.