Mali: Stop female genital mutilation!
It happens with razor blades, shards of glass or rusty knives: Women suffer for a lifetime from the consequences of genital mutilation, which is usually carried out without anaesthetic in unhygienic conditions.
Your donation will help to break the cruel tradition of circumcising girls and young women in Mali.
- Africa
Tagnè: A strong team against female circumcision
The "Association Tagnè" in Mali was founded as a grassroots group of 15 women who are themselves victims of female genital mutilation and want to protect other women and girls from this cruel tradition. The group has found more and more helpers, celebrated successes and is now an important partner for the rights of women and children and for AIDS education.
Successfully combating female circumcision
Many women in the village of Fababougou in Mali also suffered from the consequences of circumcision. Until some of them heard about the educational work of the Tagnè organisation and invited the staff to their village. Educational talks and film screenings helped to create understanding about the cruel practice of genital mutilation and its consequences. With success: the village chief himself decided to ban circumcision in the village.
Genital mutilation still widespread
Female genital mutilation is still widespread in Mali. In some regions, more than 90 per cent of girls and women are affected. The good news is that Tagné is now active in more than 150 locations in Mali. They involve everyone in their work - girls and young women, as well as their mothers and fathers, circumcisers, village authorities, religious leaders, teachers and politicians. This is the only way to really put an end to genital mutilation.
What is female genital mutilation?
Genital circumcision is a tradition that goes back thousands of years and is used, for example, to control female sexuality. Genital mutilation is often embedded in a ceremonial celebration: the transition from child to woman is celebrated, so that 12 to 14-year-old girls are the centre of attention.
This practice is mainly carried out in Africa, on the Arabian Peninsula and in some Asian and Latin American countries. It is estimated that 200 million girls and women worldwide have their genitals mutilated, with around four million more being mutilated every year, the majority of them in Africa.
In more than half of the 28 countries where female genital mutilation is practised, the practice is prohibited by law. However, only a few countries have implemented their laws in the form of appropriate protective facilities and monitoring instruments. This means that human rights are being violated in these countries.
Together against this human rights violation
Female genital mutilation is still practised in 28 countries in Africa, in some countries in the Middle East and in parts of Asia. Your donation will save many girls and women in Mali from an ordeal and a lifetime of pain. You will help an entire society to turn away from an ancient, cruel practice.
Help ensure that women in Mali who have undergone circumcision receive medical, psychological and social support. Help Tagné to end this horrific practice!
This is what our joint success looks like
- Establishment of protection committees in villages that have stopped circumcision and child marriage
- Public film screenings to raise awareness of the issue of genital mutilation
Sometimes we receive more donations for a project than was granted to the legal holder of the respective project. The projects listed here are examples of the work Misereor supports all over the world. If donations for a project exceed the amount granted to its legal holder, we allocate the surplus to other projects with a similar concept.
Our local partner organisations
Association Tagnè
The Association Tagnè in Mali is a grassroots group of 15 women who not only campaign against female circumcision, but also for the rights of women and children and for AIDS education. The counsellors are supported on site in the villages by trained local helpers.
INTEGRA
In Germany, Misereor is involved in the "German Network to Overcome Female Genital Mutilation" (INTEGRA).
Mona Plate
Donor Communications
- Telephone
- +49 241 442518
- mona.plate@misereor.de
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