The practice of excision in Burkina Faso: Religious leaders go on the offensive

The network of customary and religious leaders for the elimination of female genital mutilation (RELECORE/MGF) was officially launched on Saturday 4 December 2021 in Komsilga (southern outskirts of Ouagadougou).

As a reminder, the immediate complications of female genital mutilation can include severe pain, shock, haemorrhage, telangiectasis or sepsis (bacterial infection), urine retention, genital ulceration and damage to adjacent genital tissue.tanos or sepsis (bacterial infection), urine retention, genital ulceration and damage to adjacent genital tissue. Immediate consequences include severe pain, excessive bleeding, and death.

Data shows that due to efforts, the prevalence rate of FGC among girls under fifteen years of age has dropped from 23% in 2003 to 11% in 2015.

The ceremony in Komsilga is therefore intended to be both a launch of activities and an advocacy to customary and religious leaders of the commune.

"I hope that the implementation of the new national reference, namely the National Strategic Plan for the promotion of the elimination of female genital mutilation, 2022-2026, currently being adopted, will allow us toThis will enable us to identify innovative approaches to guide our future actions, despite a very difficult national context", encourages the Minister of Women, National Solidarity, Family and Humanitarian Action, represented at the ceremony by her chargé de missions, Karim Zina.

The network of customary and religious leaders for the elimination of female genital mutilation (RELECORE/MGF) has set itself the main objective, through various actions, of promoting the abandonment of the practice of excision. This practice is considered a public health problem and is included in the training of health personnel.

The aim of this initiative is to involve these influential people in advocacy, awareness-raising and other activities that will help the fight against FGM.

Karim Zina, chargé de mission of the Minister of Women, National Solidarity, Family and Humanitarian Action, congratulated the leaders and religious for their commitment to the government for the elimination of this practice in Burkina.

"As they are guarantors of tradition, we are delighted with their contribution, how very important, to eliminate this evil that affects the large part of the female population," he said.

According to the mission officer, these leaders will see their capacities strengthened, to enable them to be effective with their peers and to effectively carry the message to the population.

"We can already reassure the representative of the Minister that in Komsilga, the practice of excision no longer exists. Any person who is caught in the practice will be denounced," said the customary leader of Komsilga. He immediately instructed the traditional chiefs in his area to focus on the message of the fight against FGM in their communities.

The customary authority also seized the opportunity to appeal to the political and administrative authorities to be more rigorous in the fight, especially through strict sanctions.

Source: lefaso.net/