Girl bleeds to death after undergoing FGM

We can save our beloved daughters.

A woman was yesterday arrested after her seven-year-old daughter bled to death after female circumcision.

It is female circumcision season in Wajir District, despite concerted efforts to discourage the practice.

"She was brought to the hospital more than 24 hours after circumcision. By then it was too late to save her life," said Mrs Ardo Mohammed, a nurse.

She said the girl underwent infibulation, the worst form of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) common in North Eastern Province.

Police intercepted family members planning to bury the girl. An elderly circumciser was also arrested after a brief search.

Deputy OCPD Job Lesinayu said they would be charged with murder.

But relatives want the two released, arguing the death was pre-ordained.

Ritual’s defence

"No parent would want to see her child die. At least the police should allow her to mourn her daughter," a former councillor, Mr Kunow Ibrahim, said.

It has also emerged that the child was among three girls cut by the circumciser.

And the tragedy has not dampened the cultural mood with scores of other girls facing the knife.

Elsewhere, an estimated 85 per cent of the more than 100 girls who underwent the rite in December, last year in Kuria District have dropped out of school and forced into marriages.

Local anti-FGM campaigners, led by Maendeleo Ya Wanawake branch chairperson Beatrice Robi, yesterday criticised parents for allowing their daughters to be married early.

Outdated practice

Speaking during the burial of Elkana Tolo, father of The Standard Senior Online Editor, Dan Okoth in Rongo, Ms Robi attributed early marriages to poverty and outdated cultural practices.

Tolo, a pioneer teacher and church leader, died early this month, after an illness and was buried at his Kodero Bara home.

Robi said the drop-out rate was alarming and would affect the education of girls in the region.

"We have carried out a survey and found that 85 per cent of the girls have been married off. This is wrong," she said.

She also told The Standard they had compiled a list of the affected girls, and would hold a workshop to sensitise parents against the rite.

WE CAN END ALL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Bilhah Mugotista said:

women shall be women!!not less than all the other mortal men.beings of equal level aqumen,with lofty,laudable mien!!!!!!!

WE CAN END ALL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

SWEETEST THING SOUREST

For sweetest things turn sourest by their deeds,
Lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds.

Those who come easily to send others into prison,
To make people tied down to roots with no reason.

To them the cut is sweet yet to her sourest is their deed,
Traditions beautiful like a lilly yet they smell like a weed.

Most of the unlucky roses will bleed to death,
And this makes me lose a lot of breath.

Do they know that a rose is naturally beautiful?
Why then trim its bud making it awful?

Even the eagle is very sharp but can’t be human,
These people are very human but act inhuman.

There is need for affirmative action,
Legal practitioners should move into action.

These mutilators are seasoned parents too,
They shouldn’t care and should be hanged into the loo.

And help save the voiceless,
Who rapidly are becoming lifeless.

So that the roses smile again,
Because away they will be from pain.



WE CAN END ALL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

How struggle for power influences Violence Against Women

All types of Violence against Women, stem from unequal power relations between women and men. VAW is used as a means of controlling and curbing women’s autonomy and sexual behavior, and is perpetuated by gender norms that mediate expectations regarding the roles women and men are supposed to play in the family, community and society at large. Gender norms also define the parameters of acceptable behavior between boys and girls and men and women in the family, community and society within a given culture. In situations of conflict, violence against women is often employed as a tool of war to humiliate and demoralize the enemy.

As Change agents,we have to realize this and help the society we live in understand that Women are not enemies of Men,Women are partners and we have to support them if men are to remain the House hold leaders because behind every successful man their is a woman,behind every prospering nation there are caring women and last but not least for us to have a developed peaceful world,women must be protected.



WE CAN END ALL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

There are many forms of violence against women, they may be;

- Sexual physical, or emotional abuse by an intimate partner.

-Physical or sexual abuse by family members or others

-Sexual harassment and abuse by authority figures (such as teachers, police officers or employers)

-Trafficking for forced labour or sex.

-Traditional practices such as Female Genital Mutilation,forced or child marriages e.t.c.

FGM

-Dowry-related violence.

-Honour killings;when women are murdered in the name of family honour.

-Systematic sexual abuse in conflict situations is another form of violence against women a good example is the recent post election violence.

A woman in a Post election violence situation

ABOUT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

• Violence against women is a major public health problem and a violation of human rights.
• A lack of access to education and opportunity, and low social status in communities are linked to violence against women.
• Violence by an intimate partner is one of the most common forms of violence against women.
• A wide range of physical, mental, sexual and reproductive, and maternal health problems can result from violence against women.
• Many women do not seek help or report their experiences when violence occurs

WE CAN END ALL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN