Girls in Kajiado stands against FGM, They decided to fight!

In Kajiado County, young girls are beginning to fight against the brutal rite of female circumcision. It started with one girl, 13-year-old Damaris Naishorua, who stood against tradition and refused to get undergo FGM. The girls are now taking charge and even reporting their parents to authorities if they threaten to mutilate and marry them off. More than 200 in Sajiloni girls graduated from the alternative rite of passage, they made that transition to adult hood without undergoing FGM. <3.
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Ambassador Lucy Mashua
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Leading the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Lobbying for HR 2221:The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack. and S 1919 introduced by Senator Harry Reid,
http://twitter.com/Mashua
http://mashuavoiceforthevo​iceless.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pa​ges/Mashua-Against-FGM/225​406701415

LEADERS OF GREAT REGION TO SIGN A TREATY AGAINST SEXUAL GENDER BASED VIOLENCE IN 11 GREATER LAKE REGION, :)) THE FIRST LADIES PUSHED FOR THIS, I AM PROUD OF JANET MUSEVENI UGANDA AND DR KASEMBA ZAMBIA.

HEY GREAT REGION LEADERS THIS PICTURE IS AN EVIDENCE THAT THIS DAY YOU PROMISED AND IF YOU DON'T WELL.........

Leaders of the Great Lakes Region are expected to sign a declaration on how to handle sexual violence and negative forces.

The signing will mark the end of a two day summit at Speke Resort Munyonyo at the shores of Lake Victoria.

Delegates from eleven countries pointed out that militias use sex as a weapon of war during conflict. However they did not exempt national armies, peace keeping forces and civilians who they equally accused of perpetrating acts of sexual based violence.

Rape, defilement, sexual threats, exploitation, humiliation, assault, molestation, incest and female genital mutilation (FGM) were listed as some of the sexual offences commonly committed against women and girls.

Presidents, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Michael Sata (Zambia) Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania Mwai Kibaki (Kenya) and Pierre Nkurunziza (Burundi) are attending the summit. Sudanese Vice President Alhaj Adam Yusuf is representing indicted President of Sudan, Omar el Bashir.

The summit is organised under the theme; United to prevent, end impunity and provide support to the victims of Sexual and Gender based violence in the Great Lakes Region.

PLEASE MAKE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS TO MASHUA VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS INTERNATIONAL. INC it is our first time ever to ask you for donations,please see the donate button on your right hand side of this blog.
Ambassador Lucy Mashua
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Leading the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Lobbying for HR 2221:The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack. and S 1919 introduced by Senator Harry Reid,
http://twitter.com/Mashua
http://mashuavoiceforthevo​iceless.blogspot.com/
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LITERATE WOMEN IN EAST AFRICA TELL LIKE IT LIKE IT IS ABOUT FGM.

Kapchorwa — Human rights activists have called upon the East Africa bloc to honour the commitment to end female genital mutilation, describing it as a discriminatory and a harmful practice to girls.
While addressing delegates from Kenya and Uganda and traditionalists at the 12th Sebei Culture Day celebrations on Monday held at Sebei College Tegeres, the Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, said ending FGM is crucial to the success of two of the Millennium Development Goals: Improving maternal health and promoting gender equality.
She said: "FGM is a violation of the women rights. It is a dangerous and irreversible procedure that negatively impacts the general health, child-bearing capabilities and educational opportunities of girls. God is not happy about the practice."
The Sebei Culture Day, an annual event, was held under the theme 'Education and quality reproductive health are key in FGM abandonment. This is regarded as a day of zero tolerance to FGM'.
Ms Teresa Malaba, a lecturer at Kenya University, said in order to end the practice, nations must build a generally protective environment for children. The chairman Sebei Elders Association, Mr Patrick Cheborion, said progress in fighting FGM needs collective support from all stakeholders, including toughening national laws against the practice.

PLEASE MAKE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS TO MASHUA VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS INTERNATIONAL. INC it is our first time ever to ask you for donations,please see the donate button on your right hand side of this blog.
Ambassador Lucy Mashua
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Leading the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Lobbying for HR 2221:The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack. and S 1919 introduced by Senator Harry Reid,
http://twitter.com/Mashua
http://mashuavoiceforthevo​iceless.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pa​ges/Mashua-Against-FGM/225​406701415

ORGANISATIONS THAT WANT THE CREDIT OF ENDING FGM AND OTHER ATROCITIES-DON'T SPREAD PROPAGANDAS ,SPREAD THE PAINFUL TRUTH AND LET YOUR LOYALTY REMAIN TO THE VICTIMS. FGM IS NOT A SHOW IT IS AN EVERYDAY NIGHTMARE TO THE VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS,SO STOP MAKING IT ABOUT YOURSELVES!! by Lucy Mashua

10 years ago in Senegal the village of Malicoundo Bambara declared their abandonment of FGM and 2,657 other villages have declared since then , what is shocking FGM is still practiced and girls are being mutilated everyday, some villagers told IRIN news same women dancing and showing off on camera declaring abandonment of FGM behind their closed doors are still mutilating :((. Yes that is Africa for you they will tell foreigners what they want to hear and even pose for the pictures hoping to get something out of it, but girls and women continue to suffer , I am telling you only Africans know Africans so foreign journalist and organizations that want to get credit so much for ending FGM or other man made atrocities make sure that you get the truth from the root don't buy lips service and dancing or any propagandas being spread !!

Let the truth be told, don't compromise the truth to please the perpetrators . The truth is your loyalty should remain to the victims!!

PLEASE MAKE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS TO MASHUA VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS INTERNATIONAL. INC it is our first time ever to ask you for donations,please see the donate button on your right hand side of this blog.
Ambassador Lucy Mashua
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Leading the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Lobbying for HR 2221:The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack. and S 1919 introduced by Senator Harry Reid,
http://twitter.com/Mashua
http://mashuavoiceforthevo​iceless.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pa​ges/Mashua-Against-FGM/225​406701415

KENYAN GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BLOODY MUTILATIONS THAT HAPPENED OVER THE WEEKEND WHERE HUNDREDS OF GIRLS WERE MUTILATED UNDER POLICE WATCH!! I AM SO UPSET TOO UPSET WHAT KIND OF GOVERNMENT THAT WATCHES AS CHILDREN ARE BEING MUTILATED AND MURDERED AND SAYS NOTHING?

All the hundreds of girls mutilated over the weekend and all mutilated after the new FGM law was passed, and all who have died should sue the government of Kenya for not protecting them!!! Here is what the constitution of Kenya state!!.The children are protected under the constitution as evidenced here:
Children. Rev. 2010] Constitution of Kenya 37
(b) to free and compulsory basic education;
(c) to basic nutrition, shelter and health care;
(d) to be protected from abuse, neglect, harmful cultural
practices, all forms of violence, inhuman treatment and
punishment, and hazardous or exploitative labour;
(e) to parental care and protection, which includes equal
responsibility of the mother and father to provide for the child!!.
Kenyan government arrest those mutilators and their supporters ASAP.!! And after that may be your sentence for crimes against humanity committed under your watch will be lighter one day!!! . Human rights lawyers please step in , The state department,UNICEF and all the global human rights organisations.

Some of the tortured girls:((.
PLEASE MAKE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS TO MASHUA VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS INTERNATIONAL. INC it is our first time ever to ask you for donations,please see the donate button on your right hand side of this blog.
Ambassador Lucy Mashua
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Leading the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Lobbying for HR 2221:The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack. and S 1919 introduced by Senator Harry Reid,
http://twitter.com/Mashua
http://mashuavoiceforthevo​iceless.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pa​ges/Mashua-Against-FGM/225​406701415

MUTILATORS OVERPOWERS KENYAN POLICE AND HUNDREDS OF GIRLS ARE MUTILATED:(( FROM AGE 8-16 AND ARE READY FOR MARRIAEGE THAT MEANS NO SCHOOL FOR THEM!!.AND ONE SHAMELESS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CIVIC LEADER DEFENDS FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION IN NYANZA PROVINCE KURIA DISTRICT!! AM STILL COMING TO TERMS POLICE WITH GUNS AND VILLAGERS WITH MACHETTES/PANGA!! I HATE DECEMBER THIS IS THE MONTH MANY GIRLS LIVES ARE RUINED FOR GOOD!!!

Girls are congratulated and decorated after their genitals are mutilated !!called Esaro as friends and relatives join in the celebrations. so sick!!!!!

The sound of gun shots pierced the air as seemingly intoxicated youth joined girls and women in wild celebration.
Tradition had triumphed over law as hundreds of girls, some as young as eight years old faced the knife in a procedure that is internationally loathed and outlawed — female genital mutilation.

The setting is Kuria East and West districts. It’s is the third year since the last rite, and so a fresh set of girls are supposed to undergo the FGM among the Bugambe and the Buiregi clans.

Tuesday was the culmination of three days of activities that saw the villagers throng footpaths in wild celebration, armed with home made guns, machetes, spears, knives, clubs and other weapons that would ordinarily have their wielders jailed.

Hundreds of schoolgirls underwent the traditional rite of passage that now allows them to get married, raising doubts as to whether they will continue with their studies in the New Year.

Among the health concerns associated with the practice are complications during childbirth, heavy bleeding after birth and prolonged hospitalisation, with the degree of complications increasing depending on the extent and severity of the mutilation that can also cause infections and death.

The killer virus, HIV, is also readily transmitted this way.

Teachers in the area said that while the practice had been part of culture, it lead to significant deterioration in the standard of education as girls dropped out of school soon afterwards.

But Guitembe ward councillor from Kuria constituency Protrus Kohe defended the practice, arguing that the constitution protected cultural practices of communities.

Early in the week, two women mutilaters were arrested by police while “cutting” five young girls. The law enforcers laid a trap near the mutilaters’ homes and nabbed them soon after they began the “surgery”.

But the locals, who are predominantly members of the Kuria community, blocked the police vehicle, demanding immediate and unconditional release of the women.The officers were then forced to fire in the air several times to scare off the adamant protesters.
But more drama was to unfold when armed youths joined in the protests and blocked the busy Kenya-Tanzania highway for several hours.

They then engaged the police in running battles along the highway in a move that paralysed transport and blocked cargo trailers heading to or coming from the neighbouring country.

Even attempts by the Kuria West DC James Mugwe to calm them down bore no fruit.

The DC however insisted that they would not allow FGM to continue in the region, saying the practice was illegal.

FGM is practised in at least 26 of 43 African countries and prevalence varies from 98 per cent in Somalia to 5 per cent in Zaire/Congo.

PLEASE MAKE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS TO MASHUA VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS INTERNATIONAL. INC it is our first time ever to ask you for donations,please see the donate button on your right hand side of this blog.
Ambassador Lucy Mashua
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Leading the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Lobbying for HR 2221:The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack. and S 1919 introduced by Senator Harry Reid,
http://twitter.com/Mashua
http://mashuavoiceforthevo​iceless.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pa​ges/Mashua-Against-FGM/225​406701415

TOURIST AND INVESTORS FLOCKS ARUSHA REGION AND IGNORES THE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION TOWARDS WOMEN AND YOUNG GIRLS, LIKE FGM AND EARLY MARRIAGES .

Arusha, christened the Switzerland of Africa, has in recent days been a centre of political tension and not to mention of the several human rights violations against women.
The northern Tanzania region of Arusha occupies third place in the country in terms of the vice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) after Dodoma and Manyara.
Apart from the outdated tradition, so-called investors are clamouring for Arusha’s fertile land wanting to put up their investment projects.
The booming tourism industry has made the town one of the most potential investment destinations in the country, a situation that could be partly to blame for the land-grab phenomenon.
In the same rich Arusha region, there are poor people who have failed to convert their land into wealth. Perhaps one of the most notable achievements would be to see more people become aware of their rights, a task which is being done by the Arusha Legal Aid Clinic.
This clinic has managed to provide legal services to 2,822 clients, surpasssing its goal of serving 2300 clients per year.
As of October 32, the clinic won 31 cases and the number of clients could even jump by the end of the year.
Furthermore, the clinic has managed to reconcile 27 out of the 38 matters brought before it while 114 clients have been educated to represent their cases in court.
Apart from the provision of legal aid, the clinic has been making a follow-up on human rights violations in the area and this year alone, has managed to follow up on seven issues, including the Mererani saga where teenage girls were forced into early marriages.
The problem of early marriages is common in Arusha, and it is not surprising for a teacher on leave to come back find that half of the schoolgirls have absconded schooling.
Rose Mwapinga, a former teacher and District Education Officer admits that there were times when a teacher would make a roll-call in class only to be told that so and so “ameolewa”(the girl pupil has been married off).

PLEASE MAKE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS TO MASHUA VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS INTERNATIONAL. INC it is our first time ever to ask you for donations,please see the donate button on your right hand side of this blog.
Ambassador Lucy Mashua
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Leading the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Lobbying for HR 2221:The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack. and S 1919 introduced by Senator Harry Reid,
http://twitter.com/Mashua
http://mashuavoiceforthevo​iceless.blogspot.com/
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Senator Harry Reid introduces our FGM bill to the Senate bill S 1919 to strengthen our HR 2221 girls protection act of 2011, after a great call from his DC office I am happy that good men exist and are ready to fight for women's right. Ambassador Mashua,

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Tuesday introduced legislation that would make it a crime under U.S. law to take young girls out of the U.S. for the purpose of genital mutilation.

Reid's bill, the Girls' Protection Act, follows up on the successful passage of another Reid bill in 1996 that criminalizes this procedure in the U.S. on girls under the age of 18. But he said that law has what he called a "vacation loophole" that allows female genital mutilation, or FGM, to take place on U.S. girls when they are out of the country.

"While it is difficult to know precisely how many girls in the United States are at risk of being subject to FGM, estimates from various sources suggest that approximately 200,000 women living in the United States have been, or are at risk, of being subject to FGM," Reid said Tuesday. "Enactment of the Girls' Protection Act would help to better protect these girls by serving as a deterrent for those parents who are considering sending their young girls to their home countries to undergo FGM."
Under his bill, S. 1919, transporting women or girls for that purpose would leave them open to fines and up to five years in prison.
Female genital mutilation is recognized around the world as a human-rights violation that nonetheless has been carried out on an estimated 100 million to 140 million girls and women. Reid called the procedure a "harmful cultural ritual with origins in Africa, Asia and the Middle East," and said it has no medical justification.

Reid said estimates from several sources indicate that over 200,000 women and girls in the U.S. are or have been at risk of FGM.
PLEASE MAKE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS TO MASHUA VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS INTERNATIONAL. INC it is our first time ever to ask you for donations,please see the donate button on your right hand side of this blog.
Ambassador Lucy Mashua
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Leading the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Lobbying for HR 2221:The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack. and S 1919 introduced by Senator Harry Reid,
http://twitter.com/Mashua
http://mashuavoiceforthevo​iceless.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pa​ges/Mashua-Against-FGM/225​406701415

After my plea and hope Kenyan government to arrest mutilators and their helpers/parents they finally did, but the angry villagers and mutilators did not make it easy,they were forced to FIRE IN THE AIR, FOR US FGM ACTIVISTS WE DON'T HAVE GUNS JUST GUTS YOU CAN IMAGINE AN ANGRY MOB CRYING FOR YOUR BLOOD!! Ambassador Mashua

Police in Kuria West District were forced to shot several times in the air to disperse angry villagers who wanted to block them from arresting a MUTILATOR in Mabera division.The rowdy villagers, had stormed the district officer's office to protest at the arrest of the woman and her aide. The two had been arrested along the Isibania -Migori highway while dancing with villagers and two girls whose genitals they had just mutilated.It is very sad that the two girls were already mutilated:(( but it shows great step by the Kenya police to even protect the mutilated girls, on the other hand who told this angry sympathizers of mutilators they can storm at a local police station and demand the release of this two blood suckers? . KENYA POLICE AND THE SKEPTICS NOW YOU CAN SEE THE DANGER WE TRED ON AS ANTI FGM ACTIVISTS AND RESCUERS , SOME HAVE BEEN KILLED, SOME FORCED TO FLEA THE ONLY HOME THEY KNEW AND LOVED:(, SOME HAVE BEEN RAPED, BURNT JUST AS A LEASON,SOME LIVE EVERYDAY WITH THREATS AND A PRICE ON THEIR HEAD:((. IF VILLAGERS COULD STORM A POLICE STATION WHAT CAN THEY DO TO A RESCUE CENTER OR AN ANT FGM ACTIVIST HOME? YOU DO THE MATH.
ON THE OTHER HAND AS THE GOVERNMENT OF KENYA CONTINUE TO PROTECT THE GIRLS AND DO SOME SERIOUS ARRESTS TO WHOEVER TRIES,THINKS,DREAMS TO MUTILATE GIRLS. MY EYES ARE ON YOU AND THE WORLD IS WATCHING WITH ME.GIRLS DESERVE EDUCATION AND A BETTER LIFE!

EDUCATION TO ALL GIRLS IS A GREAT INVESTMENT.

PLEASE MAKE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS TO MASHUA VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS INTERNATIONAL. INC it is our first time ever to ask you for donations,please see the donate button on your right hand side of this blog.
Ambassador Lucy Mashua
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Leading the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Lobbying for HR 2221:The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack.
http://twitter.com/Mashua
http://mashuavoiceforthevo​iceless.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pa​ges/Mashua-Against-FGM/225​406701415

Over 200 girls have run away and camping in Kuria district Kenya asking the government to save them from FGM. I expect the government of Kenya to save every single girl in Kenya!

Following FGM cases going on in Kuria District whereby young girls are taken for the mutilation in the month of December annually, more than 200 young girls are camping in Ikerege village at a rescue camp fearing forced female genital mutilation. Speaking to press at the center, the girls said the Government must now come out strongly and save them from this culture. But according to one of the Kuria elders, men should not be blamed over FGM but the girls must blame their mothers who take them for the procedure.(ooh yeah that is "right" who are you kidding?)
This girls should be taught and believe it is their human rights not to be mutilated!!!
PLEASE MAKE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS TO MASHUA VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS INTERNATIONAL. INC it is our first time ever to ask you for donations,please see the donate button on your right hand side of this blog.
Ambassador Lucy Mashua
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Leading the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Lobbying for HR 2221:The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack.
http://twitter.com/Mashua
http://mashuavoiceforthevo​iceless.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pa​ges/Mashua-Against-FGM/225​406701415

Kenyan government walk the talk and give a 100% protection to the girls this MUTILATING (FGM )SEASON! AND EARLY MARRIAGES,We want to see some serious jail terms for all the crooks and pedophiles !! Ambassador Mashua

According to a reliable source and an article, most of the mutilation are executed deep in the night which has been an obstacle to the fight against FGM. And most girls are forced to marry after undergoing FGM.
December holiday when such ceremonies are rampant. With the passing of Bill in April this year, Kenya joined other African countries prohibiting FGM.
The bill provides that any one found practicing FGM and convicted will be sent to jail for seven years or fined 500,000 shillings. (5,250$)!! Anyone who causes death in the process of carrying out FGM will be liable to life imprisonment.Those convicted of aiding, abetting or carrying out FGM will be liable to imprisonment for a term between three and seven years or a fine of between 100,000 shillings and 500,000 shillings (5,250$). Kenyan government it is time you walk the talk we want to see some serious jail time for the crooks and also life imprisonment especially to all the crooks, handlers and helpers involved in the mutilation murder of the 16 years old girl who bleed to death few weeks ago in POKOT!!! We are watching and we are on to you!! And every girl that will be mutilated we will count at least 3 crooks jailed so 1 for 3!! meanwhile we will continue rescuing girls because its still so clear they are not safe!!! Do your job and keep the children safe!!

PLEASE MAKE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS TO MASHUA VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS INTERNATIONAL. INC it is our first time ever to ask you for donations,please see the donate button on your right hand side of this blog.
Ambassador Lucy Mashua
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Leading the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Lobbying for HR 2221:The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack.
http://twitter.com/Mashua
http://mashuavoiceforthevo​iceless.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pa​ges/Mashua-Against-FGM/225​406701415

Hundreds of girls are escaping FGM and crossing the boarders from Kenya, this girls are at risk of human traffic as they are running to anywhere and into anyone, please donate to help keep girls safe .

Hundreds of girls are believed to have crossed over to neighbouring Tanzania for fear of being forced to undergo female genital mutilation.

According to residents in Kuria, hundreds of girls, some as young as ten years old, have fled their homes to avoid the traditional rite which is scheduled for December among the Abagumbe clan.

The girls are reported to have escaped within a period of one week to avoid forced female genital mutilation (FGM).

Mr John Gichoro, a resident of Nyabohanse village, said that preparations for the cultural celebrations were already ongoing even as the Government issued a stern warning that it would arrest and prosecute any parent or guardian subjecting children to the backward practice.

Speaking in the area, Nyanza PC Mr Francis Mutie who toured the region last week described the rite as retrogressive and asked the community’s leaders to find alternative ways of ushering their children to adult-hood.

"This is something that has to change as it denies our girls a chance to lead a normal life," he said adding that researchers have confirmed the practice has no benefit to the girls or the community.

There have been reports of some parents believed to be faking their daughters’ disappearance to enable them mutilate them secretly in their homes.(holding them hostages in their own home)

A number of organsiations fighting the vice in the region have been urged to establish secluded camps where girls would be trained on alternative rites of passage.

Kuria west district children’s officer John Langat said his office in collaboration with a number of NGOs the police, the provincial administration and churches, had taken the necessary measures to protect girls from being forced to face the knife.

"We are aware of those planning to launch this rite within the abagumbe clan but we are not going to allow them infringe the rights of their daughters this time round," Mr Langat warned.

The Kuria community has four clans, which practice the outlawed rite of passage in liaison with their kin in Tanzania.

This is also an opportunity for human traffickers to get this girls, believe me many disappear for good:(((. please donate today to Mashua voice for the voiceless international.inc a tax deductible for a donation of 10 or more we send a personalized post card to a girl rescued, we can also send you a bumper sticker or a button. in that way we give shelter to the girls as we have families who are ready to take them in, on the right side of our blog you will see a donate button, I have rescued girls every year with the help f foot soldiers on the ground using my own money but this time around for the first time I am asking for your financial support.

Ambassador Lucy Mashua
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Leading the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Lobbying for HR 2221:The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack.
http://twitter.com/Mashua
http://mashuavoiceforthevo​iceless.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pa​ges/Mashua-Against-FGM/225​406701415

Mashua voice for the voiceless.com: Why in the world some people who have no clue abou...

Mashua voice for the voiceless.com: Why in the world some people who have no clue abou...: Why in the world some people who have no clue about the agony of FGM on women and girls that have undergone FGM think it's sexist to have la...

Why in the world some people who have no clue about the agony of FGM on women and girls that have undergone FGM think it's sexist to have laws that protect girls from FGM?

Why in the world some people who have no clue about the agony of FGM on women and girls that have undergone FGM think it's sexist to have laws that protect girls from FGM?
It is so disappointing to have people who don't care what happens to other people who don't look like them, or different colours , FGM is declared as a human rights violation on girls and women because it's evil and for those of us survive it we know. Just because it didn't happen to you or your people it does not give you the right to interfere with our fight against it because we are fighting for other innocent girls and women at risk trying to save them not to undergo what we dreaded!!! so women haters or selfish people saving a girl or protecting a girl who does not look like yours or speak your language from mutilation is it SEXIST? When a girl is mutilated at any age that makes them viable for childhood marriage to older men, if girls are not mutilated they don't get married off and so if we can stop FGM we are stopping rape( childhood marriage) and sexual slavery. I have heard enough selfish egoistic characters wining because I am fighting hard with other survivors around the world to get tougher laws on FGM and you call me a "SEXIST"? and our HR 2221 GIRLS PROTECTION ACT OF 2011 a "SEXIST" bill? are you out of your mind? do you know how it feels to be held down, gagged on a tree then with no warning your genitals are chopped off ,then you are sew shut together?, all this time you are screaming and no one is there to help?,then your legs are bound together for days and you can't urinate? do you have any idea? I DON'T THINK SO! Because if you had any you will never accuse ANTI FGM activists or law makers as SEXIST!!! Leave us alone with our cause and mind your own business if you can't support us. Thank you US Congress for our HR 2221 Girls protection act of 2011 this will rescue over 280,000 American -immigrant girls at risk thank you to all of you who have Cosponsored and I believe it will be in the Senate soon and next year it will be inacted into law , thank you so much MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA.

"THIS IS MY VOW I LUCY SEMEIYAN MASHUA WILL CONTINUE TO BE AN ACTIVIST FIGHTING FOR HUMAN RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS, AND UNTIL FGM IS HISTORY I WILL NOT STOP! BAD MOUTH ME, FIGHT ME, TRY TO BRING ME DOWN AND I WILL USE THAT ENERGY TO FORGE FORWARD:).

Ambassador Lucy S. Mashua, President of Mashua Voice for the Voiceless, International
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Chairperson of the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Leading in lobbying for HR 2221: The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack.
http://twitter.com/Mashua
http://mashuavoiceforthevoiceless.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mashua-Against-FGM/225406701415

CEDAW NEED TO BE RATIFIED AND PRACTICED ENOUGH WITH EMPTY TALKS AND EXPENSES WHILE THE AFFECTED WOMEN CONTINUE TO SUFFER! Global Ambassador against FGM and standing for human rights Lucy Mashua

Thirty years after the adoption of CEDAW (United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women), many women and girls still do not have equal opportunities to realise rights recognised by law. In most countries, women are denied the right to own property or inherit land. They face social exclusion, ‘honour killings’, FGM (female genital mutilation), trafficking, restricted mobility and early marriage, among others.
Women in Africa face dual legal systems wherein customary laws on inheritance, property ownership favour the men over the women and patriarchal traditions which consider men as heads of the family. Cultural marginalisation severely limits women’s education opportunities, which results in high illiteracy levels and a lack of qualifications and skills. These factors block women’s participation in politics, decision making and leadership positions. It is often notable that traditional and religious practices relegate women to traditional households roles.
Violence and discrimination against women are social epidemics and despite the progress made by women’s rights movements in identifying, raising awareness, and challenging impunity for women’s rights violations, serious discrimination continues to target women in Africa. In conflict-ridden areas like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, Ivory Coast, and Darfur region in Sudan, women are raped as a weapon of war with no impunity.
In the past years, there has been some encouraging progress regarding gender equality in Africa. Some states have made considerable advancements in protecting women from sexual violence and encouraging women to participate in politics and election. Most have gender policies or some kind of national women’s mechanism, such as a Ministry of Gender or Ministry of Women’s Affairs. There are aspects of gender equality in many constitutions and some countries have passed other laws on different aspects of women’s rights.
Despite growing numbers of women’s parliaments, women’s participation in politics is still far from adequate in Africa. However, according to the UN MDG’s (Millennium Development Goals) 2011 report, Sub Saharan Africa has registered an increase from 13 percent in 2000 to 20 percent in 2011, with North Africa also seeing a similar increase, with 3 percent in 2000 up to 12 percent in 2011.
There has been some recent progress regarding women’s political participation with Ethiopia, Madagascar and the United Republic of Tanzania recording improvements in 2010. Women’s representation in parliaments in Sub-Saharan Africa is now higher than in South Asia, the Arab states or Eastern Europe. Rwanda has proven to be a regional leader in terms of gender main-streaming, access to legal aid and women’s political participation with 51% of females holding parliamentary seats; the highest in the world.
In April 2011, The president of Mali appointed Cisse Mariam Kaidama to be the country’s new prime minister. Kaidama is the first woman to take on the top job in Malian politics. In July 2011, Angola took a step forward for women’s rights by enacting a Law to criminalise domestic violence and offer protection and support to victims and their families. Kenya and Guinea-Bissau have become the latest countries to make genital mutilation illegal by passing a law prohibiting the practice, and Equatorial Guinea ratified the Maputo Protocol and so became the 31st country to do so.
Most African countries have ratified CEDAW (with the exception of Sudan and Somalia), and so far, 31 out of 53 countries have ratified the Maputo protocol with the latest being Equatorial Guinea. Last year the African Union declared 2010-2020 as African Women’s Decade. The theme of this year is “Health, Maternal Mortality and HIV/AIDS”. This decade is a promise from African governments and the African Union to promote women’s rights and achieve gender equality in Africa.
The African Women’s Decade is quite significant and unique. It officially puts women at the centre of every initiative or work that will be undertaken in Africa by the African Union, and its member states in the next 10 years. By placing women at the centre of it all, African women and girls will have an opportunity to flourish and become advocates and leaders. However, there is a need for African Governments to back up their commitments with actions. We need to empower African women and girls with the tools they need to become agents of change. In 10 years, we need to look back at the African Women’s Decade and be proud of what we have achieved as individuals and as a global community.
(Enough with the CEDAW talk move from talks to action, big conventions and meetings will alone in the cities will not solve women issues. you need to be involved on the ground with locals and activists from the community to get things done!)

Ambassador Lucy S. Mashua, President of Mashua Voice for the Voiceless, International
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Chairperson of the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Leading in lobbying for HR 2221:The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack.
http://twitter.com/Mashua
http://mashuavoiceforthevo​iceless.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pa​ges/Mashua-Against-FGM/225​406701415

Mashua voice for the voiceless international.Inc supports Women in Somalia who are fighting the ban on FGM.

We support the women of Somalia and the activists, we know it is not going to be easy but keep on fighting,Women's groups in the Somali town of Galkayo are lobbying the authorities in the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland to enact a law banning female genital mutilation (FGM), saying the practice was becoming widespread. Activists say FGM causes serious health problems to the women and is against their religion.

"Unfortunately, we have noticed that instead of decreasing, the practice seems to be re-emerging, particularly in camps for the displaced,” said Lul Madar, head of the Mudug Women’s Development Network, one of the organizations pushing for the enactment of an anti-FGM law.

Madar said the increase in FGM seemed to correspond to an increase in the incidence of rape, particularly in internally displaced people’s (IDP) camps.

"We have many parents who believe that if the girl is mutilated, it will make it hard for the rapist; unfortunately, it won’t stop the rapist but will only add to the suffering of the woman,” she said.

Madar said women’s groups like hers were lobbying the Puntland authorities to pass a law criminalizing the practice, adding that although such a law may not stamp it out, “it will have a fear effect and can be used by activists to fight FGM.

Hawa Aden, executive director of the Galkayo Education Centre for Peace and Development (GECPD), a group that advocates for women's issues, told press the women were not only seeking a law but “also a religious fatwa [decree] proclaiming that FGM is Haram [illegal] under Islam.

“This will have an impact on the practice,” she said. “We must attack it on all fronts.”

Farhiya Jama, an anti-FGM activist, said she was determined to ensure that young girls did not undergo FGM. "I am 40 years old now and I still vividly remember when I was cut. It gives me nightmares.”

We want to tell these men that mutilation does not enhance or add to a girl's value as a wife and a mother but actually diminishes itJama said she suffered during childbirth and whenever she menstruates. "I dread the days when my period is close because of the pain I go through; it gets to the point where the pain makes it impossible to do anything. I don't want any girl to be subjected to this kind of suffering."

“Gudnin", or infibulation, as practised in Somalia, involves cutting off the external genitalia and sewing up the vagina, leaving a small hole for urine and menstruation.

Apart from the risks of severe blood loss, shock and infection, longer-term problems associated with FGM include infections of the urinary and reproductive tracts, infertility and a range of obstetric complications, such as postpartum haemorrhage and death of the baby, said Abdulkadir Jama Dhaga’ade, a gynaecologist-obstetrician and the director of Galkayo Medical Centre.

Dhaga’ade said FGM was one of the main contributing factors to the fistula cases he had been seeing. “It leads to prolonged labour and causes what is medically known as Uterine inertia.”

Convincing men

Madar of the Women’s Network said it was engaged in awareness campaigns targeting "not only the mothers and the girls but the men, particularly the young men of marriageable age, professionals and religious leaders. We want to tell these men that mutilation does not enhance or add to a girl's value as a wife and a mother but actually diminishes it."

The group is also taking its campaign to rural areas where the practice “is widespread”, she said.

Madar said convincing and winning the support of traditional elders and religious leaders was crucial to the group’s efforts.

"It is therefore very important to involve men, particularly religious leaders, in the campaign to eradicate FGM to debunk some of the myths that somehow the practice has a religious significance, or adds to the woman’s value," she said. .
Come on Somalia yes you can do this , Women and activists in Somalia I fully support you and yes attack it from all sides , Religion and culture there is no excuse for this atrocity!!

Ambassador Lucy S. Mashua, President of Mashua Voice for the Voiceless, International
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Chairperson of the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Leading in lobbying for HR 2221:The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack.
http://twitter.com/Mashua
http://mashuavoiceforthevo​iceless.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pa​ges/Mashua-Against-FGM/225​406701415

In some community FGM thrives despite being outlawed in Kenya. and they say they will not stop.

As KENYA joined in marking the international human rights day, in Kuria several girls lined up to undergo the ritual of female genital mutilation that is currently outlawed in Kenya. Many members of the community say this an integral part of their culture that cannot be discarded overnight. They say they will not stop even if they will be killed one of the mutilators said...and she bragged of how much money she makes per blood shed 400ksh per victim 5$:((. can you imagine government watches this and does nothing? she can mutilate up to a 1000 girls a day:(( ,
This girls are locked up in a dark hut for three weeks to cop with the pain:(( not all make it:(( this is freaking murder!!! I swear I will fight this atrocity until it's history help me GOD!

Ambassador Lucy S. Mashua, President of Mashua Voice for the Voiceless, International
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Chairperson of the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Leading in lobbying for HR 2221: The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack.
http://twitter.com/Mashua
http://mashuavoiceforthevo​iceless.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pa​ges/Mashua-Against-FGM/225​406701415

SEVEN GIRLS RESCUED AFTER BEING MUTILATED AND ONE OF THEM PREGNANT FIGHTING TO SAVE HER UNBORN BABY.10-16YRS. IN KENYA

They were rescued this monday.
Seven girls who were on Monday rescued after they had undergone female genital mutilation in Meru are set to be discharged from hospital. The incident had left one of the girls unconscious, and another who was 3 months pregnant fighting to save her unborn baby. Although FGM has been outlawed in Kenya since the ratification of the children's act in 2001, it is alive and kicking especially in the region. But as sally Mbilu reports, parliament is set to debate a proposed bill criminalising the act. What a shame that the four girls they are daughters of a pastor (Christian). Though the other pastors have condemned this evil atrocity!!!
This is just disgusting we are fighting so hard and yet no arrest have been made?
Ambassador Lucy S. Mashua, President of Mashua Voice for the Voiceless, International
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Chairperson of the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Leading in lobbying for HR 2221: The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack.
http://twitter.com/Mashua
http://mashuavoiceforthevo​iceless.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pa​ges/Mashua-Against-FGM/225​406701415

US CONGRESS,THE SENATE,HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE,US GOVERNMENT,: Save over 280,000 girls at risk of FGM, HR 2221 GILRS PROTECTION BILL ACT OF 2011.

Hi everyone my names are Lucy Mashua and I am the global ambassador for fighting female genital mutilation and standing up for women's right. I am a survivor of FGM and for that reason I chose to be the voice for the voiceless . in the US we have over 280,000 at risk of undergoing FGM, some with a kitchen knife in their US kitchen, some will be taken to some doctors like Dr. Dix P. Poppas, head of pediatric urology department at Cornell University's New York who performs FGM on girls and then uses his finger or vibrator weeks later to test arousal:(( disgusting) , we will deal with him later I just want you to know what we are dealing with,some girls will be transported back during holidays to their parents country of origin and they will undergo FGM, this bill will hinder all that ,HR 2221 GIRLS PROTECTION ACT OF 2011, introduced by Rep Mary Mack Bono (republican) and Rep Joseph Crowley (democrat), I have been working with both office and the state department on this issue and now as a face of this bill I am humbled and honored, here is the list of the 19 co-sponsor we have already ,here is what am kindly asking you to do please call them and thank them if they are your representatives, tell them you appreciate them and they rock, also tell them a big thank you from me , for those of you that you don't see your representative name please call them and ask them to co-sponsor , I will keep you posted ,
Cosponsor Statistics: 19 current (includes 19 original)
Rep Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI-2] - 6/16/2011 *
Rep Berkley, Shelley [D-NV-1] - 6/16/2011 *
Rep Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN-7] - 6/16/2011 *
Rep Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3] - 6/16/2011 *
Rep Bono Mack, Mary [R-CA-45] - 6/16/2011 *
Rep Dent, Charles W. [R-PA-15] - 6/16/2011 *
Rep Franks, Trent [R-AZ-2] - 6/16/2011 *
Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [R-NC-3] - 6/16/2011 *
Rep King, Peter T. [R-NY-3] - 6/16/2011 *
Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-14] - 6/16/2011 *
Rep Matheson, Jim [D-UT-2] - 6/16/2011 *
Rep McDermott, Jim [D-WA-7] - 6/16/2011 *
Rep McGovern, James P. [D-MA-3] - 6/16/2011 *
Rep Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-8] - 6/16/2011 *
Rep Pitts, Joseph R. [R-PA-16] - 6/16/2011 *
Rep Schmidt, Jean [R-OH-2] - 6/16/2011 *
Rep Schock, Aaron [R-IL-18] - 6/16/2011 *
Rep Tiberi, Patrick J. [R-OH-12] - 6/16/2011 *
Rep Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-20] - 6/16/2011 *

FGM is a violation of girls and women human rights see this atrocity as sexual slavery ,and not a political issue thank you our leaders for recognizing this.GOD BLESS AMERICA.

Ambassador Lucy S. Mashua, President of Mashua Voice for the Voiceless, International
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Chairperson of the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Leading in lobbying for HR 2221: The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack.
http://twitter.com/Mashua
http://mashuavoiceforthevo​iceless.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pa​ges/Mashua-Against-FGM/225​406701415

FGM SURVIVORS ACTIVISTS SHOULD LEAD IN THE FIGHT AGAINST FGM, WITH GREAT SUPPORT FROM PEOPLE AGAINST FGM.

I am saying this from the bottom of my heart we are tired of hearing theories from researchers who have no idea what it feels to be mutilated and honest truth is in general the voices of Survivors and Victims of FGM are not heard or are relegated to sensationalized news and magazine articles:(. A permanent space within international discourses of female genital Mutilation needs to be created so that these women’s voices can be better heard and respected. Survivors activists leads in the fight and not researchers!!!

The special credence currently bestowed upon negative health outcome based arguments potentially marginalizes the women most affected by FGM. These medical arguments make health outcomes the most salient issue in discourses of FGM to the detriment of other possible considerations and assume a uniform experience of health and illness. Issues of culture and agency become subsumed under medical arguments. Additionally, basing discussions of FGM eradication on medical arguments requires specific specialized forms of knowledge and access to scientific studies. For this reason, international discussions of FGM eradication are often inaccessible to mutilated women in the developing world. And that is why we who know the pain and live it we educate our people on the ground though with no any financial support but we do what we can, we might not see the sudden eradication but one day this silent genocide will end!!

Ambassador Lucy S. Mashua, President of Mashua Voice for the Voiceless, International
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Chairperson of the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Leading in lobbying for HR 5137: The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack.
http://twitter.com/Mashua
http://mashuavoiceforthevoiceless.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mashua-Against-FGM/225406701415

Please sign our petition

Refrain racism

Greetings, From US immigrant women who feel discriminated by racist terms.

I just signed the following petition addressed to: Anti male circumcision using the racist terms THE CLITORIS WOMAN and VULVA GIRL..

----------------
Refrain racism
We ask department of state global women issues,UNHCR,UNIFEM,AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL,CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT,AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL,ALL WOMEN RIGHTS MOVEMENT,PRESIDENT OBAMA, FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA,ALL THE REFUGEES AGENCY to ask the anti male circumcision campaign led by Mike Anderson of intact America to refrain from the racist terms VULVA GIRL AND THE CLITORIS woman and making it as a comic book it's not funny!!!
This is important because most of FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION SURVIVORS live with only half or less of their genitals. hundreds bleed to death every day, We are in America because this country was founded on human rights and respects all people and does not discriminate. But the use of VULVA GIRL AND THE CLITORIS WOMAN in a comic book(they think its funny well I don't!!) is RACISM against Refugees and immigrant girls,women.

Greetings everyone,
My name is LUCY MASHUA I am also the global ambassador for fighting against FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION and standing up for WOMEN RIGHTS.
as you all know the anti male circumcision in the US have new campaigns using female genitalia parts I wonder why they are not just comfortable using their own parts. Anyway since only the immigrant women and girls are directly affected by the atrocity of FGM in the US we find it a racist and a discriminating disrespecting and insensitive term!!!!We have been working on a petition against the racist,disrespecting term(THE CLITORIS WOMAN THE VULVA GIRL) the anti male circumcision are using for their campaign (mostly WHITE MALES)...and since only the female immigrants are affected by FGM it's racism and sexist and it is an insult to all Female genital mutilation survivors and victims. also when it comes to FGM the parts that are mutilated it's not only the clitoris. As a woman I feel so disrespected and as an immigrant discriminated upon,as a FGM survivor I feel stripped naked my dignity as a woman.have in mind all FGM survivors and victims have half or more of their Female genitals removed:(.
We are not against male circumcision campaign we are against the racists terms used in the campaign.
Ambassador Lucy S. Mashua, President of Mashua Voice for the Voiceless, International Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Chairperson of the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM Leading in lobbying for HR 5137: The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack. http://twitter.com/Mashua http://mashuavoiceforthevoiceless.blogspot.com/ http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mashua-Against-FGM/225406701415
After talking to many immigrant women and refugees this is our petition on behalf of our daughter and FGM survivors in the US.hope even if this term does not directly affect you and you think or believe we have a right in this country to protest please join us.
----------------
Sincerely,

[Your name]
please go to change.org to sign or copy this to your URL bar
http://www.change.org/petitions/anti-male-circumcision-campaign-refrain-from-racism-terms-and-discrimination

Mashua Against FGM Global Campaign join hands with the women activists of indonensia to say NO TO ANY FORM OF FGM.

In recent years, the law that prohibited the performance of FGM by health professionals has led some communities in Indonesia to continue practicing FGM in secret, for example in their own homes. As a reaction to this development, the Indonesian government revoked its 2006 law and adopted a new regulation that states that mutilation should be performed only my legal medical workers, a decision that sparked anger and disappointment among human rights and women’s rights activists in Indonesia and around the world.

Activists urged Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih to immediately revoke a ministerial regulation on female genital mutilation because it not only legitimizes violence against Indonesian women but also may neglect their abilities to fully exercise their fundamental rights on reproductive health and freedom.

National Commission on Violence against Women (Komnas Perempuan) deputy chairperson Masruchah said Thursday the issuance of Health Minister Regulation No. 1636/2010 on female genital mutilation had tarnished the commitments recently shown by the government in protecting women’s reproductive health and freedom.

“It is so sad to see such a setback as we have achieved some improvements in protecting the rights of our women,” Masruchah told a press conference held by Amnesty International and Indonesian Civil Societies.

As part of commitments to protect rights on reproductive health and freedom, the Health Ministry’s public health directorate general issued in 2006 a circular letter prohibiting professional health workers, including nurses, midwives or physicians, to perform female genital mutilation.In 2006, Indonesia, which has one of the highest rates of female genital mutilation in the world, made the practice of removing the clitoris of newborn babies illegal. In Indonesia, the mutilation is usually performed shortly after the birth of female babies by midwives or other health workers. As a result, the rate of FGM in Indonesia is estimated to be as high as 98 percent.“In Bone, South Sulawesi, followers of Islam who have deep-rooted patriarchal cultures define the female genital mutilation as a total removal of the clitoris. It is very dangerous because it will not only hurt women but also badly affect their reproductive health,” Masruchah said.How can they now permit female genital mutilation, whereas they have previously prohibited such inhumane practices? It is a setback,” said women rights activist Ratna Batara Munti.

The Komnas Perempuan demanded the ministry prohibit FGM altogether.I Lucy Mashua the global ambassador for fighting female genital mutilation and standing up for women rights and speaking from experience I agree this is a major setback and making our efforts as activists useless. any kind of FGM is unacceptable and it's against human rights of women! NO GOVERNMENT,RELIGION,CULTURE OR MAN has the right to sexually enslave a woman by disabling her God given genitals!! Women we don't exist just to give babies,satisfy men sexually...we exist because we are the givers of life and we are human beings!!! We should be treated with respect at all times anywhere in the world.

Ambassador Lucy S. Mashua, President of Mashua Voice for the Voiceless, International
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Chairperson of the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Leading in lobbying for HR 5137: The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack.
http://twitter.com/Mashua
http://mashuavoiceforthevoiceless.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mashua-Against-FGM/225406701415

No more warrants to raid female genital mutilation dens the new Anti FGM bill in Kenya states:)I pray it passes.

The police will not be required to have an arrest warrant to enter premises where they suspect female genital mutilation is being carried out.

This is according to a Bill that will prohibit female genital mutilation.

The Bill has been amended to include the establishment of an advisory board on female genital mutilation in preparation for the next stage in Parliament, nominated MP Sophia Abdi Noor said.

Spells out mandate

The proposed law spells out the mandate and roles of board members, among other details that will be discussed by the committee behind the Bill in conjunction with representatives from the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development.

The Bill, moved by Mt Elgon MP Fred Kapondi, has been through the second reading in Parliament and the lawmaker is confident it will sail through Parliament.

“The amendment stage is the easiest part of any Bill,” he said.

The proposed law will criminalise the practice and make those involved in its practice offenders.(I LOVE THIS)

“There are existing laws which touch on it but they have loopholes that expose girls to the process,” Mr Kapondi told an advocacy forum organised by the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association in Nairobi.

The Constitution protects women from harmful cultural practices. Article 27 (4) says no person should be compelled to undergo a cultural practice.(FINALY MY PEOPLE).
Article 55(d) states that the government shall take measures to protect the youth from harmful cultural practices and exploitation.

Section 14 of the Children’s Act of 2001 also protects children from harmful cultural practices.

WHEN WE FIGHT FGM WE DON'T FIGHT A CULTURE OR RELIGION WE FIGHT A CRIME!!

Ambassador Lucy S. Mashua, President of Mashua Voice for the Voiceless, International
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Chairperson of the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Leading in lobbying for HR 5137: The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack.
http://twitter.com/Mashua
http://mashuavoiceforthevoiceless.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mashua-Against-FGM/225406701415

Ines Laufer, Simone Schwarz, and followers are permanently banned from Maasai Men Against FGM.

As I have said please be aware of this two women they are not true to the cause of eradicating FGM, they are RACISTS and CYBER BULLIES everything they say they know they don't have facts they are just attention seekers and we EAST AFRICAN /KENYAN community we say they have nothing they do for us only adding insults and slander they have never helped any project in our community and NEVER TRUST THEM THEY TRIED TO SLANDER ME ,SMEAR MY NAME BUT THEY NEVER SUCCEEDED BECAUSE GOOD PEOPLE KNOW LIARS AND SCAMMERS!!! IN MY OWN WORDS LUCY MASHUA
Take a look of this note from another dedicated ANTI FGM GROUP Maasai Men Against Fgm.
Ines Laufer, Simone Scwarz, Roser Lackner and Nora Splite are permanently banned from MMAFGM.
From The Management of the Maasai men Against FGM.
Honorable Members;
It has come to our awareness that a group of ill-meaning individuals have infiltrated our noble cause. These individuals harbor malice intentions to peril our positive campaign for Education against FGM in Maasailand and elsewhere.
These individuals begun their first attacks by intentionally creating chaos, diverging attention from the issues to their personal ideology. Disguised as foot soldiers against FGM, the individuals arrogantly force their way with the Know-it-all attitude dis-respecting the noble cause against FGM, the members and scaring away other potential members who may not join us due to such archaic behaviors projected by these individuals.
Maasai Men Against FGM have observed that Ines Laufer, Simone Scwarz, Roser Lackner and Nora Splite inhibit a twisted view on humanity as reflected by their comments on this cause's page. It's a pity that people whom we banked on are turning to be a threat not only to our dream of an FGM free zone, but the unity of purpose that brought the group together in the first place.

After issuing a first warning to the cheer leader of these individuals, Ines Laufer, she continued to disrespect our cause, spreading rumors with intent to cause havoc and tarnish the good name , our focus and niche against FGM. We found no otherwise than to permanently terminate their membership in this group.
Our intention is to participate as Agents of positive change and development in our society. We very much welcome individuals as well as a diverse spectrum of other actors to discuss with us on the best ways to eradicate FGM. We're learners but we don't encourage bad teachers. We keep off from unqualified guides or people full of hate for Men or other cultures apart from theirs as the MMAFGM has observed in the case. We do not encourage people who think their culture is superior than any other! We detest racist and ethnicists, people who use racial or ethnic cultural or biological diversity to oppress, undermine or in anyway, dis-respect others.
This group was initiated for the LOVE of our fellow women human beings. We LOVE our women, our daughters our nieces. We belief in the notion that all human beings are created equal. Regardless of their gender, color of their skin, their ethnic belonging, religion or ideological background. We belief that no culture is superior than any other. All cultures have flaws. They're dynamic and flexible. Maasai culture has a lot of bad parts just as the culture that led Hitler and the Nazi Germany to commit a genocide against the Jews for example. Maasai culture is changing to the better, just as the Nazi Germany is washed away and Germany is now one of the best countries to live in. We do not use the genocide history against the present German children. Equally, we find it twisted that someone uses the bad part of our culture against us, even when we've initiated a page for such required reforms.

We as a group knows that Education creates a foundation for open mind, wider perspective and provision of a diversity of alternatives of livelihood and tolerance. Ines Laufer and her disciples should have been a good example for open mindedness.
Our expanded indigenous moral boundaries supports us to embrace the best parts of other cultures as we share the best of our culture with those around us. We do not shy away from learning and we can also be very good teachers. BUT, we dis-like people who fist down their twisted ideologies into out throats. We do not just dis-like these kind of people, but we cut them off from anything to do with us, our people and our ways of life! We say, we do not want their help! Let them take it back to where they come from and leave us alone to solve our own problems.
The Enkishui E Maa taught us to keep focus, to switch off noise as we concentrate on our niche against FGM. Our niche against FGM is education and good morals promoted with love in a humble environment. Meeli Maa repeatedly advised Ines Laufer to focus on issues, be tolerant to other views and keep an open mind.
The writer applied all diplomatic means to keep Ines Laufer in the group even after receiving calls from concerned members who felt they were repelled by Ines' presence. The writer have seen Ines slashing our members and contributors immediately someone mentions EDUCATION as the most effective way against FGM. Ines Laufer even thought that those promoting education lacks empathy for what she calls “slaves of men from the mutilating communities” Every individual in this group mentions education as the most effective means of empowerment not only for the girl-child, but also for the boy-child and the adult in societies where FGM/C is practiced. Thuku, Mwirichia and 181 other members mentioned Empowerment with Enlightenment as a Ines Laufer and her followers trash it as nonsense. Members in this group who originates from societies where FGM/C is practiced have all vowed to protect their sisters against the cut. They are empowered and can retain their ethnic identity but without cutting their girls, or marrying them off too early. They'll let them choose men of their own choice. They'll let them own the right to their own bodies. This is the attitude the Maasai Men are promoting. This is the true empowerment education and good morals provides us with.
Ines believes that there is no need for dialogue, that the “mutilating societies should all be imprisoned”. The writer mentioned to Ines that it may not be practical to build prisons for about 3 million Kenyan Maasai, the same in Tanzania, the Kisii, Pokot, Nandi, parts of Kikuyu, Somalis of Kenya Tanzania and Somalia not to mention the majority of the Islamic world.

Enlightenment brought diverse ways of seeing the world to the West. It does to Africa too. But for Ines Laufer and her disciples, Africans do not deserve to benefit from education because it has now proven not to work for them according to the research papers she claims to be highly reliable. Ines does not believe in dialogue, she wants to drop cluster bombs on “mutilating societies in Africa and Islamic world” to force them drop FGM. She wants to keep them away from education because education according to her, is a waste of time, money and energy. Ines ideology and perception is exactly the opposite of what this group believes in. This are therefore the few reasons the management could provide for the permanent banning of Ines Laufer, Simone Scwarz, Roser Lackner and Nora Splite.
To our noble members, Education is the foundation for positive change and development and a sure way to eradicating FGM in Maasailand! As the Ilaikipiak Lamayio says, Give us wings! Talk to us.

EDUCATION IS A VITAL INGREDIENT TO THE ELIMINATION OF FGM.
Ambassador Lucy S. Mashua, President of Mashua Voice for the Voiceless, International
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Chairperson of the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Leading in lobbying for HR 5137: The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack.
http://twitter.com/Mashua
http://mashuavoiceforthevoiceless.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mashua-Against-FGM/225406701415

The only Radio dedicated to End FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION hosted by a survivor of FGM.

Listen to internet radio with Mashua voice for the on Blog Talk Radio

A Kenyan member of Parliament moved the house to tears as she narrates her own horrifying FGM experience.

Never before in the history of the august House had a member used her life experience to move debate as Ms Sophia Abdi did when supporting Bill to outlaw female genital mutilation.
Everyone believed it was a Islamic religious obligation to undergo the torture, and the conviction was that a woman who was not mutilated was unclean and not fit for marriage.
It was also believed that God could not hear prayers of an unmutilated woman. The MP was brought up to believe it was an Islamic religious rite.
Nominated MP Sophia Abdi Noor tends to speak forcefully on most issues she is concerned about. But when she rose to contribute on the Bill to outlaw female genital mutilation in Parliament last week, her voice dropped as the House went silent.
It was perhaps the first time an MP was giving a deeply personal story which contributing to debate.
FGM, said Sophia, was the cause of a harrowing experience during menstruation, her first sexual experience, and the eventual childbirth.
This, she said, is the driving force behind her passionate fight against the practice, which Parliament now seeks to outlaw with the Bill sponsored by Mt Elgon MP Fred Kapondi.
She was barely eight years old when together with seven of her agemates, she was handed over to a traditional circumciser who took them through the painful process of FGM. It has been many years since, and she has accomplished so much in life, but the incident remains fresh in her mind.
The old woman who took them through the process was going blind, she says, and three of the eight who underwent FGM died due to excessive bleeding. One of them was her very close friend.
Luckily for her, the bleeding was not too much and she had a saviour at hand. Her father, who was a policeman, took her to a hospital in Garissa using a police Land Rover.
Completely changed
She was in hospital for a week and underwent a transfusion of four pints of blood. After she left the hospital, her life completely changed and her mother was also affected as she felt guilty for ‘blessing’ her daughter to undergo the rite.
The beginning of her complications was her first menstrual period, which was slow as the opening of her vagina was small, restricting the flow and her period lasted up to seven days. This would mean missing classes for the whole period and she would often lag behind in class.
Sophia does not remember her wedding day as the happy occasion it usually is for most people.
“It was a night I literally don’t want to remember,” she said. Her husband was equally affected due to the frustrations they encountered trying to consummate their union.(HAVE SEX)
It took them three days before her husband could open up to friends about their frustrations of being unable to consummate their marriage.
“I was completely closed and we could not even share with our mothers who kept checking our bedsheets for blood (a custom to make sure you were completely shut only to be reopened the first night of marriage parents had to see blood to confirm FGM worked:(). They got worried and asked the very young couples of our age to come and find out what the problem was,” she recalls.

More problems
She was later taken to hospital for an operation although the eventual consummation was still difficult because of the wound from the operation.
She would also have problems later as she gave birth to her first child, a baby boy. She had prolonged labour for four days and she could not undergo a Caesarean section because the child had already moved to exit position. The baby had to be removed by a vacuum, slightly injuring his head.
Ms Noor says it is this experience of her life that propelled her to launch anti-FGM campaigns.
“So many girls have died out of this, there is no documentation because this is done in secret, but this is killing and that is why I am talking about it,” she said.I Lucy Mashua I can testify under oath that this is 100% true:(
She said it’s a very painful psychological experience. with some dying and that “there is no homestead that has no sad story arising from FGM,” says Ms Noor.
She explains that as a child from a pastoralist community, FGM was a compulsory rite.
“It was not a matter of consultation, it was even a taboo to talk about i. It was a very strong belief,” she says. (YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT HAPPENS TO SOMEONE WHO SPEAKS AND SACRIFICE HER LIFE AS AN FGM ACTIVIST.)
Everyone believed it was a religious obligation to undergo the rite, and the conviction was that a woman who was not mutilated was unclean and not fit for marriage.
It was also believed that God could not hear prayers of an unmutilated woman. But the MP does not blame her mother for the ordeal. She understands too well that like many other women in her community, she was brought up to believe it was a religious rite.
Going through the process meant cleansing daughters for marriage. “No one wanted their daughter to be a ‘haram’(Arabic) for unfit for marriage,” she explains.
A part from the belief that mutilating the girl made her clean, it was also believed that the process protected her virginity.
“Once taken to her husband, he would know that she had been properly taken care of,” the MP explains. The third reason for FGM is that the community was scared of girls who were not mutilated, easily branding them prostitutes.
This is because it was believed not going through FGM left a woman sensitive sexually hence could easily turn to prostitution.
My parting shot
O.M.G we undergo all these to satisfy a man's world? purely hidden in pretense of culture and religion? FGM is a crime against women and all the perpetrators should be locked up! as a victim myself at the age of 9 I can totally relate to Ms Noor. I can not say male circumcision is equal to FGM there is no comparison!! with the number of over 200 girls bleeding to death everyday , you can imagine if in one homestead (Boma) 8 girls bled to death one morning how under reported is FGM deaths? The mutilators are sometimes murderers, and deserve prison for torturing killing girls. This sounds like an exaggeration, but death occurs sometimes years later for slow infections, childbirth, and lifelong illness. Working with immigrants everyday this happens everyday and with our girls protection bill currently to be reintroduced to congress doctors can be of very much help to catching this mutilators, USA believes in human rights and if you want to live freely in united states you need to not violate any human rights!!!
Ambassador Lucy S. Mashua, President of Mashua Voice for the Voiceless, International
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Chairperson of the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Leading in lobbying for HR 5137: The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack.
http://twitter.com/Mashua
http://mashuavoiceforthevoiceless.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mashua-Against-FGM/225406701415

Germany organisation exposed for using FGM activist Marie Nareku as a plat form. be aware of,Simone Shwartz,Ines Laufer

This organisation - looking so innocent and solid and heart warming - is nothing more than a big scam and shame!! Founders accusing real victims of FGM of lying about their suffering, lying about being raped, lying about having families, children, and actively works to put those people in harms way!! Never trust them, never join them, and spread the word - they must be stopped. Name and shame!!
It is such individuals that make our work to fight against FGM difficult, if confronted they will just slander you and discriminate you. They attacked me personally by using my story to mock me and my children, and as a survivor of FGM I felt discriminated on. if anyone can use your pain, your children to try to bring you down while they claim they are against FGM they are no good.
They did this after I told them I would let them use my painful experience and my children for their own hidden agendas before I could say anything officially they went online and called me a fraud. come on this people who I met once now think they know me? anyway I had a great support system from friends and families who called this unintelligent silly joke:). Anyway I filed a formal complain after I contacted my local FBI office . Thank you for all of you who have stood by me since then. here is their latest Kenyan activist targeted prey asking them to stop using her name to make their organisation look legit .http://with-heart-against-fgm.com/tabu-e-v/resignation-of-marie-nareku-as-patron-of-the-task-force/
Ambassador Lucy S. Mashua, President of Mashua Voice for the Voiceless, International
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Chairperson of the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Leading in lobbying for HR 5137: The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack.
http://twitter.com/Mashua
http://mashuavoiceforthevoiceless.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mashua-Against-FGM/225406701415

After the silly untruthful attacks from the Germany organisation made of two people my sister Linda May wrote this on my behalf.

This organisation in Germany made of two angry women Simone schwarz,Ines Laufer ,their only work is to look for African victims to use their name to get fame and donations as they tried to use me and when I said no they went ahead and slandered me Lucy Mashua I only met this people once they claim to have given me 500$ to use for my children,but guess what Simone schwarz donated 0$, Ines Laufer sent me 150$ the rest was from their friends, WHEN I REALISED THEY WANTED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MY PAIN AND SAY THEY ARE THE ONES WHO HELPED BRING MY CHILDREN...WHILE I HAVE WORKED HARD WITH THE HELP OF FAITHFUL FRIENDS FOR 4 YEARS TO BRING MY CHILDREN HERE, WITH A BUDGET OF OVER 20,000 DOLLARS ,I WIRED THEIR 500 HUNDRED BACK AND 0$ TO SIMONE SCHWARZ WHO NEVER GAVE ANYTHING.SO DON'T BE LIED TO , TRUE EYES REALIZES TRUE LIES AND LIARS LIKE SIMONE SCHWARZ AND INES LAUFER OF "TASK FORCE FGM".
! now they have been lying and using Marie Nareku from Kenya as working with them but she said no!it is all about victimizing the victims, and attacking and slandering people who are working towards eradication of FGM, it is a big shame for everyone working honestly, humanly, ethically, and empathic with this issue. Makes me both sad and angry that they use and abuse people, survivors, for their own dirty agendas.
Many thanks to my sister and friend Linda May Kallestein for standing with me then and now. and not forgetting my faithful fans on facebook and twitter.
http://www.lindamaykallestein.com/Linda_May_Kallestein/Blog/Entries/2010/2/20_Lucy_is_Reunited_with_her_Children!!.html

Ambassador Lucy S. Mashua, President of Mashua Voice for the Voiceless, International
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Chairperson of the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Leading in lobbying for HR 5137: The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack.
http://twitter.com/Mashua
http://mashuavoiceforthevoiceless.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mashua-Against-FGM/225406701415

FGM IS THE WORST CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY IN 21st CENTURY 04/23 by Mashua voice for the | Blog Talk Radio

FGM IS THE WORST CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY IN 21st CENTURY 04/23 by Mashua voice for the | Blog Talk Radio

FGM crime ensures a cycle of poverty among my people. just like any other high in crime areas!!

A woman who underwent female genital mutilation at an early age. Now aged 20, she developed complications (obstetric fistula) during birth at Nyeri Provincial General Hospital, last year. Her child died, while her abdominal walls collapsed.

Little Mary Wangwe walked five kilometres from her home to escape from the mutilators.
Just 11 years old, Mary* had expressed her opposition to FGM but her parents would not listen.

They went ahead and organised everything, including food for the feasting that would follow the ceremony.

But Mary thought her future was more important than the rite of passage. So she decided to disappear from home shortly before the traditional mutilators arrived.

She was among more than 400 girls from Kuria West and Kuria East districts staying at the Komotobo Maranatha Mission church , set up by non–governmental organisations as a rescue centre.

In the rescue camps, the girls are told about the dangers of FGM and the spread of HIV/Aids.

Elsewhere across the village, a group of people celebrated with loud drumming after a 13-year-old girl was mutilated against her wishes.

Wearing a loose leso(tradition wrap) and with her face decorated, the victim was sandwiched by the mob singing her praises.

Meanwhile, her elder sisters and brothers were slaughtering three goats and preparing busaa so the clan members could enjoy a feast at sunset.

School holidays usually present Kuria girls with mental trauma and anguish instead of joy and relaxation.

It is a period when the traditional mutilators charge between Sh200(2$) and Sh500(5&) for each FGM crime..

And the mutilators have not been properly sterilising the scissors and razor blades used in this operation in spite of the HIV/Aids scare.

Some of the girls who run away have been forced to face the knife soon after returning home from the rescue centres.(I always say there is need for permanent rescue because this girls always go back and the worse mutilation happens.)

And even those who undergo alternative rites of passage funded by the NGOs have not been spared, in spite of the Government keeping a close watch.(I said it alternative rights of passage is like a pain killer for a day then the girls are mutilated when the NGO people or activists go back to their comfort home or hop a plane.)

Since the children’s departments in most districts have skeleton staff, the matter has not been adequately addressed.

Chiefs from this border district have always condoned Female Genital mutilation (FGM) with some actively taking part in the practice in spite of it having been outlawed.

One girl was rescued after her parents had tied her hands and feet then placed her in a thicket where she was about to be forcefully mutilated in spite of her protests.

The Kuria community has refused to discard FGM in spite of the spirited efforts of NGOs such as Action Aid Kenya and the Government.

The practice has greatly affected girls’ education with most of the initiates being married off by their dowry-hungry parents.(agrrrrrr)

Most girls drop out of school each January after facing the cut because of their subsequent marriage, said education authorities.

Area MP Wilfred Machage commented: “The girls attain a false status of womanhood after facing the knife.
The community must change its attitude or we will forever remain backward.” Dr Machage is asking the locals to allow their daughters to reach 18 years before being subjected to FGM.

“At this age, they shall have completed their Form Four education and will be able to make a sound judgment on the matter. I appeal to my constituents to change with the times,” he said.

The community must realise they will only get out of abject poverty when they educate both boys and girls, Dr Machage explained.(I agree)

Many Kuria parents believe an unmutilated girl is an outcast whose future is doomed.

Yet a study by the Kuria Girl Child Organisation that has been in the front line of fighting FGM in the districts, showed that in spite of mutilating their girls, many Kuria men prefer to marry unmutilated Luo and Luhya women because they were reportedly more enthusiastic about sex.

Some of the elite Kuria families smuggle their daughters to Tanzania to stay with relatives to escape from community pressure to be mutilated.

Others take their daughters to relatives in Tarime, Tanzania to be mutilated, for fear of being arrested in Kenya and charged in court.

The Kuria live on both sides of the border. Whenever schools close for the December holidays, Kuria girls struggle to break away from cultural stereotypes in their pursuit for quality education.

The primary pupils have to contend with many difficulties as they strive to break away from the cage of illiteracy.

They are yet to benefit fully from the free primary education programme introduced by the Narc Government in 2003.

The Government and some NGOs have been supporting their wish for education but the problems remain.

Maureen Chacha* and Jane Ghati* are aged between 14 and 17, but they are already the wives of elderly tobacco farmers in Kehancha division in Kuria West.(PEDOPHILE)

Others are working in the farms with their parents although they were supposed to be in school.

In Mabera division, a provincial administrator dissolved one marriage, between a 14-year-old girl and a 40-year-old widower.(good for the PA)

The man was thrown into the cells for marrying a minor who was neither physically nor psychologically prepared to face the challenges of marriage and child bearing.(good)

Some girls dropped out of primary and secondary schools and are now working as barmaids and house-helps in the nearby towns of Isebania, Migori and Kisii.

Most are the victims of broken marriages into which they were pushed by their parents, eager for dowries.

Girls’ education has been threatened by outdated cultural stereotypes and illiteracy amongst the Kuria.

A survey showed that the introduction of the free primary education encouraged only boys to fill the classrooms. A few girls did enrol but they were married off immediately after facing the knife.:(((.
About 62 per cent of girls who enrolled in primary schools in the two districts did not make it to secondary because of the cultural bias.(this breaks my heart).
“Since Kuria is among the poorest districts in the country, parents opt to educate their boys instead of girls. They believe the latter are just a source of wealth and dowry,” said Mr Lucas Chacha of Action Aid.

National examinations

There are 145 primary and 17 secondary schools in Kuria East and West and most of them are ill–equipped, leading to poor performance in national examinations.

Although Action Aid has been providing information about the benefit of educating girls, illiteracy levels are still high, as is a refusal by parents to change their attitudes, he added.

“We also lack women role models in this district who our girls can envy so they study harder. That is why several organisations have come together to build a Western Kenya Anti-FGM network to enable us to build on the initiatives happening elsewhere”, he said.

Mr Chacha wants the Government to take stern action against parents and guardians who still take their children to the mutilators.

“The State must get tough on the child rights violators. There are not enough children officers in Nyanza who have the mandate and skills to handle child matters,” he said.

A meeting for Kuria elders from both Kenya and Tanzania was held recently with a view to stopping FGM on the basis that it was holding back the community’s social and economic development. It remains to be seen if it will bear fruit.
*The names of the girls have been changed to protect their identities.

Ambassador Lucy S. Mashua, President of Mashua Voice for the Voiceless, International
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Chairperson of the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Leading in lobbying for HR 5137: The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack.
http://twitter.com/Mashua
http://mashuavoiceforthevoiceless.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mashua-Against-FGM/225406701415