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Early marriage’ (also known as ‘child marriage’) and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) are the two leading forms of so-called “harmful traditional practices” in Africa. Child marriage is defined as any form of marriage with a person under the age of 18 years. FGM (also known as female cutting) is defined by UNICEF as the practice of cutting away part or all of a girl’s external genitalia.
Early marriage and FGM are usually, but not always, interlinked. Both practices expose girls to sexual exploitation and abuse, in addition to denying their access to a quality education. The three countries with the highest percentages of early marriage are Mali (65%), Malawi (51%) and Ethiopia (48%) (UNICEF 2008).
In response, World Vision is running “grassroots” projects and campaigns to curtail FGM and early marriages in countries and communities where this practice is most prevalent.
In Tanzania, Kenya, Mali, Ethiopia and Somalia, World Vision is seeking to raise community awareness about the effects of early marriages, mobilize public opinion, and educate girls regarding the harmful effects of FGM -- including fistula, complications of child birth, and in extreme cases death. Following the legislated banning of FGM by governments such as Kenya and Tanzania, the practice has gone underground in these same countries.
Only by tackling the root causes of FGM and early marriage – both of which are perpetuated primarily by cultural beliefs – will future generations of girls be protected from these harmful practices that are so deeply rooted in some African societies.
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