Female genital mutiliation is on the decline in a conservative country like Eritrea, according to a local official as the nation joined the rest of the world to mark “International Day of Zero Tolerance for the practice.
February 6 is reserved every year to create awareness about the damaging effects of the practice especially in Africa and other parts of the developing world, where women and girls continue to bear the physical and pyschological scars of FGM.
The day was observed in Asmara at the Central Region level under the theme “Towards 2030: No End to FGM without Sustained Commitment and Investment.”
Noting that the practice of FGM is currently declining at the national level, Col. Gebrehans Woldegergis, Director General of Social Services in the region, called for integrated efforts to eradicate the practice in all regions of the country.
Indicating that five sub-zones in the Central Region have been declared free of female genital mutilation, Mr. Tekie Qeleta, Director General of Administration and Finance in the region, urged coordinated efforts by the public and stakeholders to ensure that the remaining sub-zones follow the initiative.
According to research conducted of the period from 1995 to 2010, the prevalence of female genital mutilation has been declining progressively in Eritrea.
WN/as/APA