Speech of H.E. HON MWAI KIBAKI C.G.H
M.P. PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA

DELIVERED BY
THE HONOURABLE VICE PRESIDENT,
H.E. ARTHUR MOODY AWORY


Distinguished guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

Introduction in Swahili

I would like to thank the organisers for inviting me to open this International Conference on Female Genital Mutilation whose intention is Developing a Political, Legal and Social Environment to implement the Maputo Protocol. This is a critical issue facing not only Kenya but many other countries, particularly in the African continent. I am therefore pleased to see so many of you here to meet, share ideas and discuss strategies for this important fight: the fight against Female Genital Mutilation.

Let me first welcome all of you who have come from outside Kenya and express my hope and belief that you will have a pleasant stay in our country. I would also like to thank the organisers of this conference, the Office of the Vice-President and Ministry of Home Affairs, the NGO "No Peace Without Justice" and the local civil society organising committee for convening this Conference on an issue of extreme national, regional and international importance. I would also like to thank the European Union, UNICEF, the Italian Corporation and the Canadian International Development Agency for their financial and political support.

This collaboration between government and civil society, between Kenyans and our friends from abroad, is an important feature of this conference. I have often said that Kenya cannot be made great by Government alone: Government of course has its own role to play, but nation building is an exercise that requires many hands and many minds, working together towards a common goal. The same is true of our common goal to see an end to FGM: we need a concerted effort by Government and civil society, local and regional efforts with support from our foreign friends. I am proud that Kenya is able to spearhead this process and that this important event is taking place here in our beautiful country.

As a Kenyan I am proud of the level of equality we promote in our communities. The Kenya nation aspires to offer the same opportunities of safety, freedom, education and choice to all, regardless of gender, race or ethnic identity. The diversity and wealth of African cultural heritage is one of the many aspects of this great continent of which I am proud. Our traditions have been handed down from generation to generation and continue to play an integral role in our national and continental identity. Not only do these traditions strengthen us as a people but they serve as an essential role of promoting our ideals, our beliefs, our history to the international community.

The practice of FGM, however, undermines these aspirations and our rich cultural heritage by stripping the girl child of the right to choose their future and claim their independence. I view FGM as a representation of the historical subservience and inequality of women, going hand in hand with the abuse of women, including domestic violence. Let us leave it in history and only look back so that we might know how to fight it in the future.

The practice of female genital mutilation occurs throughout the world. It is estimated that 135 million women and girls across the world have undergone FGM and nearly two million remain at risk. While FGM is most prevalent in Africa and the Arab world, it is by no means an isolated problem. There are reports of FGM in Asia and among migrant communities the world over, from Australia to North America to Europe. This is truly a global issue deserving the attention of us all.

FGM has a serious negative impact on the health of women and at its most extreme may lead to death. The longer-term effects are also well chronicled and include infection, tumours, discomfort and extreme pain. Currently our nation is faced with HIV/AIDs, which we, as a government, have pledged to fight relentlessly. We cannot close our eyes to the link between FGM and HIV/AIDs. The psychological effects of FGM are also undeniable and serve as yet another reminder of the cruelty of the practice. But strange as it might sound, these are not the main problems with FGM. Solving these problems does not solve the overall problem with FGM. In fact, medicalisation is as much a threat as the practice itself, because it masks the fact that the practice of FGM is a violation of the human rights of women and girls, wherever it is done, under any circumstances.

As I have said before, we cannot, as a nation nor as a global community, succeed unless we invest in human capital. Now is the time for us as a nation and a continent to stand up and declare that we will invest in our girl children: there is no place in our culture for the harmful practice of Female Genital Mutilation. There is no place in our culture for the violation of the human rights and dignity of the women and girl children who contribute to the rich history and potential of this country and this continent.

The national commitment to eradicate FGM is no where more evident than in the significant NGO activities across the country. I am in no doubt that the efforts of many of you have contributed significantly to raising awareness on the negative effects of FGM and have already prevented the mutilation of very many individuals. I would like to thank you for you efforts and assure you that you have the full support of my government.

Despite the tremendous work ahead, we as a nation have made some modest progress. In December 2001, the Kenyan Parliament passed The Children Act, which prohibits the circumcision of girls under the age of 18 and includes prison terms and penalties for violation of that law. In 2003, the Government of Kenya attended the Afro-Arab Expert Consultation on Legal Tools for the Prevention of Female Genital Mutilation, organised by No Peace Without Justice in Cairo. The Cairo declaration, which was a product of the conference and which Kenya fully supports, represents one of the most comprehensive blueprints for the eradication of FGM.

Further, in December 2003, Kenya did sign the “Maputo Protocol”, also known as the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, which in Article 5 stipulates that FGM should be prohibited and condemned. I am pleased to announce that Kenya will ratify the Maputo Protocol, bringing us one step closer towards ending the practice of FGM and, by empowering women, unleashing their great potential, which will be of tremendous benefit to our country. I encourage our fellow members of the African Union to join us in ratifying the Maputo Protocol, so that we can see its entry into force and empower women across the continent.

So where do we go from here? It is clear that we must all together make efforts to ensure that the existing legislation is implemented and utilised to its full extent. We must work to persuade those individuals and nations who are as yet undecided on the issue. We must encourage those nations who have not yet implemented anti-FGM legislation to do so as a matter of urgency. We must continue our efforts to stop those who would continue the practice in face of the prohibitive legislation.

In the last decade the global community has made giant strides to promote and protect human rights. There is no better indicator of this than the creation of the International Criminal Court, established in 2002, to prosecute those responsible for gross violations of human rights. The global face of Human Rights is well recognised and documented and it is time that what we are here to discuss is recognised as part of that movement. Human rights are a universal principle, transcending borders, languages, religions and cultures. We, as a global community, should carry the momentum behind international human rights and direct its full force to combat the individual breaches represented by FGM. Let us be clear on this: FGM is a serious violation of individual human rights. Every step we take towards its eradication represents a triumph for human rights. Whether you are a child, a husband, a teacher, a mother or a politician this is the time to denounce the practice, to promote eradication and to stand up for the individual human rights of the two million girls and women who still remain at risk of mutilation.

In conclusion, I would like to once again thank all of you for your support and commitment. In my opinion, this conference offers those of us here a unique opportunity to participate actively in the eradication of FGM. Over the next three days I would encourage you to share your ideas, your concerns and your hopes on the issue. I am sure at times we will disagree on the path before us, but I am also certain that on the 18th of September at the closing ceremony of this conference we will be one step closer to the elimination of FGM.

Concluding remarks in Swahili

I thank you for your attention and take this opportunity to declare this conference officially opened.