Somali Government Reaffirms Its Commitment to Fighting Female Genital Mutilation

– The Federal Government of Somalia has reaffirmed its commitment to ensure female genital mutilation (FGM) and other forms of gender violence are eliminated.

The pledge was made at a forum held in the Somali Capital, Mogadishu, on Wednesday and attended by women leaders from all the regions in Somalia, officials from the federal government, representatives from regional states, religious leaders, legislators, clan elders and members of the civil society.

Addressing the well attended forum, Somalia’s Attorney General Attorney General Ahmed Ali Dahir supported the push for legislation to end FGM. “We need to specifically fight FGM. We need an enabling law.

Let us harmonize our demands with the law. We should be specific about FGM and not mix it up with circumcision in general,” Mr. Dahir said.
The Attorney General emphasized that Somalia needed to develop homegrown solutions to eradicate retrogressive practices; arguing that adopting policies from outside Somalia may be counterproductive in the fight against female genital mutilation.

The meeting was organized by the Ministry of Women and Human Rights and the Office of the Prime Minister in conjunction with Ifrah Foundation, with the support of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), and was officially opened by the deputy Minister of Women and Human Rights Ms. Mumina Sheikh Omar.

“The Constitution bars circumcision in general but does not specify which type. Since the Constitution we have in place is still provisional, the Sharia takes precedence. Let us follow Sharia law but you can discuss and give us your views,” the deputy minister told participants at the forum.

Calls for a complete end to the age old practice was strongly supported by the Minister of Religious Affairs, Abdulkahdir Sheikh Ali Baghdad, who said FGM is a cultural practice that has no place in Islam.

“It is forbidden to cut the private part of a girl because it is like any other part of the body. It is like the eye, tooth or the ears. If you abuse it, it is like you have abused any other part and I will not be ashamed to say it,” Baghdadi said.

AMISOM Gender Officer, Mane Ahmed, who spoke on behalf of AMISOM, reiterated the Mission’s commitment to supporting efforts to end the practice, which is deeply entrenched in Somali culture.

Presentations at the forum illustrated the dangers faced by women and girls who have undergone the practice. Somalia has the highest FGM prevalence rates in the world, standing at 98-percent.

According to Ms. Ifrah Ahmed, the Founder of Ifrah Foundation, the conveners of the meeting, intense lobbying for legislation against FGM will continue. She said her organization would work with the Ministry of Women and Human Rights and partners such as AMISOM, to ensure appropriate legislation is passed.

AMISOM has been in the forefront of supporting efforts that promote human rights in Somalia and is working with the government and other partners to enhance human rights of Somalis.