By Lake Zone Watch writer
A coalition of the network of non-governmental organisations fighting to end the age-old tradition of female genital mutilation (FGM) has pleaded to government to enact a new law to protect girl children from undergoing the harmful practice.
The alliance, in a declaration made at a meeting held in Tarime district on Tuesday, advised the government to pass a law that will carry a heavy penalty for perpetrators of FGM, amending the existing law on children protection, and discouraging parents and traditional leaders from encouraging the practice of the out-dated custom.
The coalition’s chairman, Francins Salerasini, said efforts by anti-FGM activists to protect girls from the harmful act have proved futile and that the onus is now on the government to lend a helping hand through passing a stringent law and supporting implementation of the national 2021-2024 anti-FGM strategic plan.
The Tarime declaration highlights continued education as the major weapon to end the practice in which activists must carry out a vigorous campaign by reaching out to families practising the custom.
Tarime is one of the areas in Tanzania where FGM is still widely seen as an important culture .
The organisations engaged in the anti-FGM battle include Network Against Female Genital Mutilation (NAFGEM), Hope for Girls and Women Tanzania (HOPE), Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC), Children Dignity Forum (CDF), Tanzania Media Women’s Association (TAMWA) and Tanzania Lawyers Association (TAWLA).
Others are Christian Council of Tanzania (CCT), World Vision Tanzania (WVT) Women Wake UP (WOWAP), Anti-Female Genital Mutilation Network (AFNET), Tanzania Gender Networking Programme (TGNP) and WILDAF Tanzania, just to name few.