---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2001 17:36:53 +0000
From: Molly Melching <[log in to unmask]>

    I am writing to let you and through you, others who may be interested in
an upcoming declaration in Senegal.  Representatives of villages from the
rural community of Mampatim in the region of Kolda met on February 25, 2001
to discuss the abandonment of Female Genital Cutting.
Tostan sent three representatives to this meeting and they report
that approximately 250 representatives from 107 villages
met and made the decision to end FGC together.
They decided at the meeting that they will hold a public declaration to
announce their unanimous
decision to end this practice on MARCH 25, 2001.
They also decided to put a stop to early marriages and promote family
planning at the same declaration.  All village chiefs and women leaders
attended as well as
the religious leaders of the area.  There are many Fulaani and Mandinka
villages involved which is wonderful since the Mandinkas are among the most
conservative related to this and the other issues.

    Eighteen villages which followed the Tostan education program originally
made a decision to end FGC in this same rural community on June 1, 1998.
Since then, Tostan implemented the program in 23 neighboring villages
of the same rural community with funding from Unicef.
These 23 villages decided to end the practice after finishing the program
in July 2000, but asked for time to lead social mobilization activities
in the other villages of the rural community of Mampatim.
They visited many other villages in the rural community from August through
December 2000.  Tostan also opened 15 new classes in the area during the
month of December for the Village Empowerment Program with funding from
GTZ and the Population Council. Thus, when the entire rural community met
on February 25, people spoke of the human rights violations involved with
the practice of Female Genital Cutting and the negative health consequences
for both girls and women.  Our representatives were astonished with the
openess
and frankness with which everyone spoke about the issue.  No one opposed the
decision and committees were formed to organize a celebration for the
announcement of the end of FGC for approximately 50,000 people.

    We feel this will be one of the most important events in the movement
to end FGC in Senegal.  A total of 128 villages have already declared
an end to FGC in the region of Kolda and have maintained their decision
since their declarations.  With more than 100 new villages
declaring on March 25, we are hoping it will influence the entire region.
Given that the Kolda region has the highest rate for maternal mortality in
Senegal, we feel this will be a major victory for the promotion of girls and
women's health in that region.

    This will mean that more than 281 villages will now have ended FGC in
Senegal representing about 220,000 people.

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