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Kenya: The Promotion of Initiatives to Overcome Female Genital Mutilation and whether there are other similar projects

According to the Website of the German Organization for Technical Cooperation (GTZ), the Promotion of Initiatives to Overcome Female Genital Mutilation-FGM (PIOFGM) project is based in the Division of Primary Health Care of the Ministry of Health in Nairobi and is financially supported by the GTZ (n.d.a).

The GTZ Website further states that the goal of the project is to "improve the physical and psychological well-being of girls and women" by decreasing the incidence of FGM (ibid.). The project, which runs from 2000 - 2002 (GTZ n.d.b), focuses on communities in specific districts in order to raise their awareness of the negative consequences of FGM and thus increase their willingness to stop this "harmful practice" (ibid. n.d.a).

In addition, "the project supports the National FGM Secretariat in the coordination of initiatives [with]in the frame work of the National Plan of Action to eliminate FGM, supports pilot-implementations [at the] community-level, [heightens awareness among] health [personnel], develops operational research and ... intensifies [the] exchange of information about FGM at [the] local, national and regional level[s] (ibid.). According to their Website, three additional health-related projects in Kenya are being funded by the GTZ organization, but, they do not focus on FGM (GTZ n.d.b).

An article in The Nation tells the story of a young woman who fled her home to escape the FGM practice and enrolled with 63 other girls at a PIOFGM-sponsored institution that teaches the "principles and values of womanhood and responsible lifestyle" (21 Dec. 2001). Ms. Jane Kamau, the project coordinator, said that FGM is "very prevalent" in the district, which is predominantly occupied by the Maasai, and this project provides girls with an "alternative rite of passage" (ibid). For additional information on the PIOFGM project please consult the attached project summary.

Regarding similar projects which involve the "alternative rite of passage" approach to prepare girls for womanhood, the Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organization (MYWO), a Kenyan national women's group, implements "a week-long program of counselling, capped by community celebration and affirmation" in place of FGM (ANS 19 Nov. 1997). Please consult the attached report by the United States Department of State entitled Kenya: Report on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) or Female Genital Cutting (FGC) that provides additional information on the MYWO's programming and a list of other FGM outreach activities by governmental, non-governmental, national and international organizations (1 June 2001).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Africa News Service (ANS) [Durham]. 19 November 1997. Malik Stan Reaves. "Alternative Rite to Female Circumcision Spreading in Kenya." <http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/200101080370.html> [Accessed 15 Oct. 2002]

Germany. German Organization for Technical Cooperation (GTZ). n.d.a. "Promotion of Initiatives to Overcome Female Genital Mutilation-FGM." <http://www.gtz.de/kenia/projects/fgm/> [Accessed 2 Oct. 2002]

_____. n.d.b."GTZ in Kenya." <http://www.gtz.de/kenia/projects/projects.htm> [Accessed 15 Oct. 2002]

The Nation [Nairobi]. 21 December 2001. Mugumo Munene. "Challenges Abound Over Ban on FGM." <http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/200112200466.html> [Accessed 2 Oct. 2002]

Attachments

Kenya and Germany. Kenyan Ministry of Health/GTZ Project. June 2000 - June 2002. "A Brief Summary of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Project."

United States. Department of State. 1 June 2001. "Kenya: Report on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) or Female Genital Cutting (FGC)." <http://www.state.gov/g/wi/rls/rep/crfgm/10103pf.htm> [Accessed 15 Oct. 2002]

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB Databases

Keesings Record of World Events

NEXIS

The Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights (CLAIHR) was unable to provide information on the above-mentioned topic.

Unsuccessful attempts to contact the following organizations: Federation of Women Lawyers - Kenya (FIDA), Coalition on Violence Against Women (COVAW), German Organization for Technical Cooperation (GTZ).

Internet sites, including:

Africa Action

Africa Online

Africa Confidential

Amnesty International (AI)

BBC Africa

East African Standard

Global IDP

Human Rights Watch (HRW)

Relief Web

Save the Children - Canada

UNIFEM

United Nations Development Program (UNDP)

Women's Human Rights Net

Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)

Women's International Network News (WIN)

World News.com

World News Connection (WNC)

Search engine:

Google

Topics: Female Genital Mutilation (FGM),