The British High Commissioner to Tanzania, Dianna Melrose
Melrose made the remark yesterday in Dar es Salaam at the British
High commissioner residence during the launch of an animated short film
on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) that has both a Swahili and an
English version.
“The move of president Magufuli signifies that he will help women
in other sectors as well especially education and employment
opportunities and hence the economy of the country in general,” she said
Melrose said the film will serve to educate Tanzania and other East
African countries to be proactive in combating the harmful practice.
On her side, Executive Director of Women’s Fund Tanzania, Mary
Rusimbi said FGM is a worseninig problem that is rapidly spreading
despite efforts to curb the practice.
She said that Tanzania is one of 29 countries that has high rates
of FGM with approximately 3.5 million women and girls across the country
having undergone the mutilation.
“Among 100 and 140 million women and girls worldwide have undergone FGM, including 92 million in Africa,” she noted.
“Though this practice is carried out for various reasons, FGM is a
violation of human rights, rights of girls and women and also is a
threat to their health,” she said.
Rusimbi said regions that have high rate of FGM in Tanzania are
Manyara 71%, Dodoma 64%, Arusha 59%, Singida 51%, Mara 40% and Dar es
Salaam 38%
As to why the problem is growing, she said it is because of poverty
and long standing traditions that suggest a girl who accepts FGM is
better for the man.
“Girls need protection and love just like a boy child, mutilating
her body affects her health, her rights and her well being” Rusimbi
summed up.
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