Speech of the HON. LINAH JEBII KILIMO
Minister of State for Home Affairs

Your Excellency, the Vice-President of the Republic of Kenya, Hon. Moody Awori, MP,
Hon. Ministers from Kenya and participating countries,
Conference sponsors,
Invited Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Before I begin my speech, I wish to inform you that Kenya is delighted to host this very important conference which is a follow-up to the International “STOP FGM” Appeal that was launched in December 2002 and the Cairo conference held in June 2003.

Your Excellency,

The hosting of this conference in Kenya at this time is most appropriate because it has for the first time, brought key actors in the fight against FGM in the country to strengthen coordination, programming, monitoring and evaluation of the efforts to eradicate this outdated practice.

Distinguished Guests,

This conference will, among others issues, review existing program approaches and strengthen structures of implementing the plans of Action on the eradication of FGM. The conference will also strengthen partnership between the Governments, the media and civil society in the eradication of FGM.

Apart from these, the conference will boost the ratification process of the Maputo Protocol and its implementation in line with the commitments of the Cairo Declaration with the Kenyan Government spearheading the process.

Your Excellency,

I wish to recognize the part that has for long been played by NGOs in the fight against FGM particularly the “No Peace Without Justice” which recently launched the “Stop FGM” campaign in collaboration with other NGOs. The turning point of the campaign was the Afro-Arab Expert Consultation on ‘Legislation for the Elimination of FGM’ held in Cairo between 21st to 23rd June, 2003.

I also recognize that this conference will further support NGOs and civil society from African countries affected by the practice and demonstrate their role in democratic governance in Kenya and in the region.

Apart from these, the Conference aims at firmly examining and clarifying ‘grey’ areas or areas of contention, which may contribute to the slow response in the ratification process of the Maputo Protocol and its implementation in line with the Cairo declaration. From this point forward, it is the intention of the Kenya Government to be among the front-runners in spearheading this process.

It will also demonstrate the seriousness, with which the Kenya Government attaches to the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, including FGM, which has been identified as major impediment to the socio-economic development of many nations.

One of the major outcomes of this conference, Your Excellency, would be to provide an environment within which NGOs could keep carrying out, their fieldwork in a more effective way. It is by doing this that the conference will achieve the use of national, regional and international instruments to eradicate the practice of FGM and foster partnership among governments, civil society and media in the eradication of the practice.

Participants of this conference will agree with me that in Kenya today, a lot of effort has been directed towards the protection of child rights, specifically the elimination of FGM by the government and the civil society.

At juncture, I wish to appeal to the inter-ministerial committee that involves among others, Office of the President; Office of the Vice President and Ministry of Home Affairs; Ministries of Health; Gender, Sports, Culture and Social Services; Tourism and Information, Justice and Constitutional Affairs and the Attorney General chambers to steer this process with civil society and ensure that the Children’s Act is fully implemented.

This is because, despite legal instruments already in place, the Government has not yet set all structures in place to fully implement their provisions and transpose them into effective and practical action.

I want to put it clearly that FGM is widely condemned by international health experts as damaging both physical and physiological health. FGM is not only a violation of women’s reproductive rights but also a violation of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights including he right to “bodily integrity” and the right to equal treatment between sexes. Nevertheless, FGM continues to be practiced by certain ethnic groups and remains widespread, particularly in rural areas.

In Kenya for example, 38 percent of women have undergone FGM. In some districts, the percentage of girls who have undergone the procedure is up to 80-90 percent. While the Government prohibits its hospitals and clinics from practicing it, FGM is still taking place in some rural communities.

Furthermore, despite their actions in December, 2001, Kenya Parliamentarians have showed reluctance to discuss FGM. Indeed it appears that politicians fear loosing votes and as a result, those who speak against it risk isolation by their peers. When the law enforcement arm of the state takes action against FGM, there is little or no political support by the local leaders and the parliamentarians and in some cases silent or even open opposition to the law.

This points to the fact that unlike other issues that affect the “girl child” such as access to education, FGM adherents appeal to strong cultural feelings, which are seen as threatened, and by this threaten the cohesion of the whole community. The introduction of ‘an alternative rite of passage’ to take the place of this practise recognizes the importance of a period of transition in a girls life without the necessary health hazards that are also associated with FGM. There may be need to explore good practices to build on the strengths of the alternatives.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I want to state that the action undertaken in Kenya to prohibit the practice of FGM indicate that of raising the political stakes at this critical juncture would yield progress towards eradication of FGM in this country.

The political process needs to be complemented with cultural and religious action, providing the opportunity for traditional and religious leaders to take a united stand against the practice.

A clear united, position from religious organizations of all faiths is still lacking and there is risk of polarizing if only some or few religious organizations that take a clear and unequivocal position.

Before I conclude, I wish to make a passionate appeal to all of us irrespective of religious and political affiliations to come out forcefully and say “NO” to the outdated cultural practices like FGM for the sake of the future development of our girls.

In conclusion, I will also not forget to appreciate the role played by the Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK), the World Vision, European Union, United Nations International Children’s Education FUND (Unicef), Open Society Institute, Norway, the International Community, especially No Peace Without Justice, the co-host, the Kenyan Government and others which I cannot all mention today but have contributed to the success of this conference.

At this juncture, it now gives me pleasure to invite you, your Excellency the Vice-President of Kenya, Hon. Moody Awori to give your speech and blessings besides officially inaugurating this conference.

Thank You and May God Bless.