By Noel Aidan
Key Disability Development Network (KDDN) was created to advocate for barrier barrier-free society where persons with disability, adolescent girls, and women enjoy equal rights and access to opportunities. With a vision of healthy and empowered girls, women, and persons with disability accessing their fundamental human rights, and with the opportunity to realize their full potential. One of our specific goals is to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and other forms of violence against women, girls, and persons with disability in our community.
Gender Inequality in Tanzania
Gender inequality remains a concern in both the developed and developing world. In Tanzania, approximately 40% of women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence and 17% have experienced sexual violence during their lifetimes (MOHCDGEC, 2016). Spousal violence prevalence is highest in rural areas, averaging 52% while the prevalence in urban areas averages 45%. Almost 30% of girls experience sexual violence before the age of 18. The average prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM) among girls and women aged 15-49 is 10%. 58% of women and 40% married women have experienced physical violence, and 9% experienced sexual violence (Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey, 2015-2016). Many believe that a husband is justified in beating his wife under certain circumstances, and only 54% of women in Tanzania who experienced physical or sexual violence seek help (Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria Indicator Survey, 2015-2016).
The findings show that there are gaps between socio-cultural norms in rural communities and the legal provisions aimed at mitigating gender inequality. These gaps exacerbate risk factors such as high rates of early marriage and low levels of education and economic independence for women. Ultimately, this means that women in Tanzania often have lower levels of agency and decision-making power in both the private and public spheres. Gender-based violence (GBV), encompassing domestic violence and rape, remains prevalent but often goes unreported. While legal mechanisms exist, there is often stigma around reporting, as well as delays and dismissals tainted by corruption. Eliminating discriminatory practices against women will not be achieved if steadfast societal norms remain undressed. In order to ensure that no one is left behind, there is a need to implement societal attitude change programs.
FGM and Women in the Kurya Community of the Mara Region
FGM is a widespread problem in the Kurya community from the Mara region, located in Northern Tanzania. With the national FGM prevalence is 10%, the Kurya community has a female circumcision prevalence rate of 32%, meaning 8 in every 10 girls as young as 8 years (Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria Indicator Survey, 2015-2016) old are at risk of being cut every single year with 40% of women in Mara region having undergone FGM (National Plan of Action to End Violence Against Women and Children 2017 – 2022.
The World Health Organization recognizes Female Genital Mutilation as the greatest form of violence against women and girls today. The practice involves cutting a girl’s clitoris and labia, often using unsterilized blades and knives. It causes severe bleeding, infection, and even death. For the young girls who are subjected to female genital mutilation, the pain does not end with the cut of a blade; they are also exposed to the risk of contracting HIV and other life-threatening complications when they are old enough to become adults.
Amongst the Kurya people, FGM prevents women, girls, and the whole community from reaching their full potential. FGM, as well as other forms of GBV, has eroded the physical and mental well-being of women, girls, and their families. Most girls who undergo FGM are likely to get married earlier, and those who do get married
early learners are not likely to progress in their studies. One of the factors that influences the girls to undergo the practice themselves is the pressure from the community and their peers. The caregivers/parents are aware of the health risks of FGM and would prefer their girls not to go through the cut, but because the stigmatization of uncircumcised girls in the community is very strong, it often makes them succumb to the pressure to conform to tradition.
A Story of KDDN Initiative on the Well-Being of Girls in the Kurya Community of the Mara Region
It is in this backdrop that Key Disability Development Network targeted the households of these girls in the program with the Shujaa Teens program that seeks to strengthen caregivers’ ability to provide a nurturing and protective environment for adolescents by using positive parenting and relationship-building techniques. These techniques include strengthening interpersonal relationships between parents and teens by supporting parents in developing effective behavior management strategies to reduce exposure to risk of violence and abuse outside the home, where FGM is one of the major risks girls are exposed to. The sessions were implemented in 2 groups targeting 50 households where each household had a caregiver and a teen attending the sessions. The adolescent girls attending the sessions were 28.
At the initial stages of assessment and introduction to the program, it was very difficult as some of the beneficiaries thought it was a program that was to benefit them materially. The facilitators explained to the participants that the program intended to build skills that would enhance the relationship between them so that they could address the risks their teenagers face. The more participants attended the sessions, the more they found them to be interesting, such that they would come 30minutes earlier to share what they learnt at home, and how it is impacting their livelihood.
Facilitators initiated discussions on how the caregivers would create a conducive environment such that the girls would not feel under pressure to go through the cut. Some of the ideas from the caregivers included creating quality time for their children and frequently talking about emotions. One of the caregivers said, “I never knew that my teenager had great suggestions on things we can do at home, as we were not having quality time to discuss with them. Thanks to the Key Disability Development Network for bringing this program to me.” After going through the sessions, one of the adolescent girls said, “I now know that I have other girls who do not want to go through the cut. I am confident that I am not alone.”
When the time for the practice came in December 2023, 12 out of the 28 refused to undergo the cut. This was through the support of their caregivers, who reassured them of their support and enhanced a conducive environment at home that was not putting pressure on the girls to undergo the cut.
Key Disability Development Network has also, over the years, sought to create safe spaces for girls, young women from hard-to-reach communities including rural farming communities, who are normally left out. We have been at the forefront of Adolescent girls’ empowerment through our flagship project. NAWEZA “I CAN” adolescent girls’ project. We believe in the power of adolescent girls to tell their own stories and redefine their future. Our skill-based program addresses the numerous topics prevalent in the lives of young adolescent girls. This mentoring program addresses the high Female Genital Mutilation prevalence rates and the lack of proper support systems in the lives of adolescent girls. Naweza provides a safe place for girls to be who they are, educational and recreational experiences through positive social interactions. Since 2017, we have directly benefited 1600 girls. We have been able to see our girls improve in their ability to make better decisions, be inspired to be strong, have a positive self-image, and gain confidence in their everyday lives.
Mokami and a couple of Matinde are some of the faces in the fight to eradicate FGM in the Mara Region. Mokami experienced genital mutilation at the age of 13 and was married as a second wife to a 31-year-old man when she turned 15. She experienced complications during childbirth and beatings at home. Mokami managed to escape with her child and received entrepreneurial training at one of Key Disability Development Network centers, giving her the skills to support herself and her child. We empower survivors by training them on effective skills to break the cycle of FGM and to advocate for their daughters and siblings not to be cut, because to this end, we must shift the focus from women as victims to women as agents of change.