---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 09 Jun 2004 13:35:04 +0000
From: Molly Melching <[log in to unmask]>
To: Declaration ab <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: 96 Villages Abandon Female Genital Cutting on May 30, 2004

Dear Friends,

The 17th Public Declaration for the Abandonment of Female Genital Cutting in
Senegal took place in the southern region of Kolda in the village of Medina
Samba Kandé on May 30, 2004.  192 representatives from 96 villages made a
solemn pledge that no girl in their communities would ever again undergo
this harmful traditional practice.

This declaration followed the Tostan two-year basic education program in
national languages funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in
collaboration with Unicef and the Government of Senegal in 30 villages of
the area.  The villagers conducted social mobilization activities over a one
year period in 66 other communities to convince their neighbors and
relatives to end this harmful traditional practice in a united effort to
respect the human rights of girls and women.  Two inter-village meetings
were held on May 10 and 12 in the presence of local government officials and
health agents to reaffirm and formalize the commitment of all the
communities before the actual declaration.

To date 1,367 communities have made the decision to abandon FGC through 17
public declarations, representing 28% of the 5,000 villages that practiced
FGC in Senegal in 1997.

Aside from the 192 village representatives from the 96 villages, many local
health agents and  government district commissioners were present as well as
three members of the Senegalese parliament, the Governor of the Region of
Kolda and large delegations of villagers from the Matam, Kaolack, Thies,
Tambacounda and Ziguinchor regions.  Gabriella Devita, Senior Advisor for
Child Protection from Unicef New York and Neil Ford, Regional Communications
Officer from the Unicef East Africa Office also attended.

One of the most exciting aspects of the Medina Samba Kandé public
declaration was the presence of 45 guests from the neighboring country of
Guinea who arrived after driving 21 hours to attend the event.  These
Guineans are participants from the Tostan basic education classes in the 3
regions of upper, middle and lower Guinea, accompanied by their local
government representatives and members of the press (project funded by USAID
Guinea).

The villagers from Medina Samba Kandé welcomed everyone and explained why
they had made this important and historic decision.  They performed a skit
on the dangers of Female Genital Cutting and sang songs on the importance of
human rights and democracy.  There was much dancing and joyful celebration.
The Guineans, many of whom are of the same ethnic group as the declaring
villagers, made several speeches congratulating their brothers and sisters
for this important step towards better health.  Thirty local, national and
international journalists covered the event and over the following week,
more than 20 articles appeared in the national press.   The declaration was
also covered by radio and television.

Dr. Gerry Mackie, leading international expert on the abandonment of FGC,
traveled from Notre Dame University in Indiana to witness the declaration.
Dr. Mackie noted: "I have long believed that the abandonment of FGC through
public declaration is the best way to ensure people can end this tradition
in security.  FGC is linked to the marriagability of a girl thus, without
the intra-marrying community participating, it is difficult if not
impossible to give up this tradition.  I am now more convinced than ever
before that it is possible to see the end of FGC in one generation using
these positive strategies that include education, social mobilization by the
practicioners themselves and public declaration."

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