Kenya bans female circumcision
2001-12-12 17:57
Nairobi - Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi on Wednesday announced that the ritual circumcision, or genital mutilation, of girls under 16 was a crime punishable by jail terms of at least a year.
"Anyone found circumcising a girl of 16 will go straight to
jail," Moi told a rally marking the 37th anniversary of Kenya's
independence from Britain.
The prohibition of female genital mutilation (FGM) on young
girls was one of the measures contained in the Children's Bill
passed by parliament recently.
In his speech, Moi appealed to police and other law enforcement
agencies to make sure "every child is protected and their rights
respected".
A survey conducted in 1998 found that 38% of women aged between 15 and 49 years were estimated to have undergone female
genital mutilation. - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA