Patterns of Female Genital Cutting in Sierra Leone - Unicef

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6 UNICEF: Patterns of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in Sierra Leone Sunna Any practice Muslims believe to be based on the traditions of the Prophet Mohamed; a religious obligation or recommended practice. “sunna circumcision” As used to describe FGM/C in Sierra Leone, it means that the circumcision was done with minimal ceremony, especially without the beating of drums for the Bondo or Sande ritual. Circumcision is performed in a more subdued fashion favored by some Muslim groups. However, this meaning is not consistent across all groups. TBA Trained Birth Attendant (when affiliated with the Ministry of Health), originally “traditional birth attendant” Bondo bush shrine and enclosure for ceremonies, village near Port Loko.
7 UNICEF: Patterns of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in Sierra Leone Patterns of Female Genital Cutting (FGM/C) in Sierra Leone: A Preliminary Study Executive Summary 1. Introduction. In Sierra Leone, female genital cutting affects about 94% of the female population over the age of 15, and it continues to be practiced on teenagers or on children as young as 5 or 6 or even younger in some parts of the country. These practices, which are performed on girl children as part of initiation rituals into a secret society, are deemed to be harmful traditional practices that violate human rights standards, from which children should be protected. Karin Landgren identifies “Culture and Custom” (attitudes, traditions, behavior, and practices) as one of eight elements needed for a protective environment for children, noting that while female genital cutting may “perform social functions linked … to marriageability and control of female sexuality” (2005:232), it is nevertheless harmful to health and a violation of rights. Both CEDAW and the CRC underscore the need to modify societal practices and patterns if they are prejudicial to the health of children and the exercise of their human rights (2005:233). Therefore to further its commitment to child health and child protection, UNICEF Sierra Leone has included the development of programme communication for addressing community attitudes and practices to strive to abolish “such harmful traditional practices as FGM/C” (E/ICEF/2007/P/L.9.34). 2. Objectives. The present study is intended to the assess FGC practices in Sierra Leone and the potential for change using qualitative data on the following, for the purpose of crafting recommendations for strategies for abandonment: Objective 1. Summarize the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Sierra Leone’s communities about FGC and its consequences and identify the present cultural justifications; Objective 2. Identify the community dynamics of change, including opinion leadership, and identify specific factors that preserve or promote changes in attitudes and practices, including peer pressure, marriageability, female sexuality, changes in marriage and sexual practices (especially arranged marriages and child marriages), old age security, cultural practices, and religious beliefs; Objective 3. Examine the role of formal religious bodies in supporting or challenging initiation practices. Objective 4. Determine the effect of FGC on the education, health, marriage age, and social standing of girls; Objective 5. Investigate any positive experiences of abandonment of FGC. 3. Methodology. The study used intensive ethnographic methods including interviewing, group discussions, and observation in selected urban and rural communities in Sierra Leone, including Freetown/Western Area and six other districts: Bombali, Kailahun, Koinadugu, Kono, Port Loko, and Pujehun.
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