IAC urges religious leaders, media to play leading role in fight against FGM

Addis Ababa, February 11(ENA)-- The Inter-African Committee (IAC), an NGO working to ban Harmful Traditional Practices (HTPs), has called on religious leaders and the media to play a leading role towards the eradication of female genital mutilation (FGM).

In an exclusive interview with ENA, President of IAC, Brehane Ras-Work said religious leaders should intensify their efforts to teach and convince the society that FGM does not have any religious justification.

Religious institutions in Ethiopia should adopt common agenda that would help eliminate the practice of FGM, which is exposing a great number of Ethiopian girls to medical, social and psychological crises.

Since FGM is not supported either by the Holy Bible or the Holy Koran, no religious excuse should be presented to encourage the practice, Brehane said.

She said the media also need to be in the forefront in providing the necessary information that would raise the public awareness on the adverse effects of FGM.

The Ethiopian government has given priority to HTPs perpetrated against women including FGM, she said, adding the establishment of the National Committee on HTPs attests the fact that the government is committed towards this end.

IAC has set up an effective national committee in Ethiopia working towards the abolition of FGM and other forms of harmful traditional practices affecting the lives of Ethiopian women.

Brehane said IAC has been providing anti-HTPs lessons to various sections of the society through youth groups using different languages and psychological approaches.

Speaking of the international conference held here in Addis Ababa from 4-7 February under the theme " Zero Tolerance to FGM", Brehane said the conference was successfully concluded by adopting a common agenda for action against FGM.

Brehane has commended the support made by the Ethiopian government for the success of the conference, which she said has brought together over 350 delegates including policy makers, parliamentarians, ministers, first ladies as well as representatives of religious groups and the society.

WHO estimates that up to 130 million girls worldwide have been subjected to FGM.

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