Forced mutilation and marriage
She's too young to say no. But you can.
Our aim. To teach about the dangers of female genital mutilation and child marriage in Ethiopia and put an end to these traditions for good.
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The challenge today
From the moment they are born, girls across rural Ethiopia face traditions that put their lives and their health in danger. One in two girls undergo female genital mutilation or FGM in Ethiopia before their 1st birthday. The biggest risk? Bleeding to death. For those who survive, two in five will be subjected to child marriage before the age of 18 where they will forfeit most of their rights in a traditional marriage.
Female genital mutilation and child marriage are violations of the most basic human rights. It’s time to say no more.
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The solution you can be part of
For such long-held and deeply ingrained traditions, change must come from the ground up – from local women and local communities. That’s why we’ve teamed up with on-the-ground project partners to end FGM and child marriage in Ethiopia woman by woman, family by family. Here’s how:
- Educating women, families and whole communities on the dangers of these traditions and their lack of religious significance, particularly for FGM
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- Training local women who have experienced and/or practiced FGM themselves as Extension Workers to provide personal advice, health support and counselling for others affected
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- Working with clan and religious leaders to defend the rights of women and form committees to stop their community from slipping back into dangerous traditions
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- Creating opportunities for youth to voice their own opinions through community events and by opening up discussion with local leaders
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See the solution in action
Valerie Browning, co-founder of project partner APDA, speaking one-on-one with an Afari woman on the dangers of female genital mutilation and child marriage. Lack of education means most women don't realise the many health problems they experience are because of FGM and child marriage.
Local women being trained as Extension Workers. Here they'll learn how to provide pre- and post-natal care for mothers, how to educate on the problems of early marriage, and how to stop female genital mutilations in rural communities.
Extension Worker Hasna (right) speaking with a new mother about how to protect her baby. FGM in Ethiopia is a generations-long tradition and many women feel pressured by their community to perform the practice on their child.
The Barbara May Hospital in Ethiopia's north-east Afar region. Before built by our project partners, there was no other hospital in Afar. Today it's a lifeline for the whole region.
APDA co-founder Valerie Browning running a workshop for Afari men about the rights of women especially in traditional marriage and the lack of religious significance for FGM. Many men believe this is “women’s business” and don’t openly speak about these topics.
Youth in Afar don’t often get a say in their beliefs or traditions, even when it puts them at risk of FGM or child marriage. APDA create opportunity for youth to speak out via community conferences and clan leader meetings.
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The impact you can have
“Before we learned all these things I used to cut my daughters and marry them early but now I stopped. I advise my community also to stop it.”
Ever since she was a child, Aisha believed female genital mutilation and early marriage were a necessary part of life.
Until, one day, an Extension Worker from our project partner (APDA) came to her village.
“Through trainings and awareness, we become more aware of harm these practices bring; why women get difficulties during delivery, bleedings, passing urine and other difficulties that ruin their lives. We all woke up to the fact how we all suffered.”
Aisha vowed to stop practicing these long-held traditions herself and to help her village stop them too.
This is how with education you can help put an end to FGM and child marriage in this generation and the next.
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Meet your project partners
Afar Pastoralist Development Association
Founded by Australian nurse Valerie Browning and Afar leaders in 1993, the Afar Pastoralist Development Association (APDA) was created to meet the unique needs faced by the isolated and nomadic people of Afar. Today, APDA fights to end female genital mutilation and child marriage, advocate for the rights of women, and build up mobile, adaptable health and education services.
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Make your impact
Donate today to help teach a community like Aisha's and stop female genital mutilation and child marriage in Ethiopia for good.
