Burkina Faso: Political will, law enforcement, and educational campaigns appear to be reducing FGM/C
Document Type
Brief
Publication Date
2008
Abstract
In 2006, FRONTIERS collaborated with the National Committee Against the Practice of FGM/C on an analysis of recent trends in female genital mutilation/circumcision (FGM/C) in rural and urban Burkina Faso. The study, conducted to help develop policies and programs for FGM/C abandonment in Burkina Faso and more widely in Africa, had three components: a description of the institutional, political, and programmatic environment in Burkina; a secondary analysis of data from existing studies; and an assessment of the community’s perceptions and behavior regarding FGM/C, as well as the factors that contribute to abandonment or continuation of the practice. For the policy review, researchers collected national and international documents on laws related to FGM/C, as well as studies and evaluation reports from several intervention programs, and visited three courts to observe judicial procedures and penalties for FGM/C cases. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 28 stakeholders. In Burkina Faso, a variety of strategies led to widespread declarations of intention to abandon FGM/C. However, as noted in this brief, ensuring the sustainability of these gains will require long-term commitment from the government and from programs that seek the abandonment of FGM/C.
Recommended Citation
"Burkina Faso: Political will, law enforcement, and educational campaigns appear to be reducing FGM/C," FRONTIERS OR Summary. Washington, DC: Population Council, 2008.
DOI
10.31899/rh14.1006
Language
English
Project
Frontiers in Reproductive Health
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