A report published last week in Addis Ababa shows very encouraging results in the fight against Harmful Traditional Practices (HTP) in Ethiopia and against FGM in particular. The prevalence of FGM has, according to the survey, decreased from 73% in 1997 to 56% in 2007 in the general population.The most substantial decrease has been found in Tigray where prevalence has been reduced by more than 53%; from 48.1% to 21.2%. Substantial reduction of more than 20% is also registered in Southern Nations (SNNPR), Oromia, Addis Ababa and Amhara-regions. Among the Gidole-people in Southern Nations region the practice has been totally eradicated according to the survey.
02/07/2008 ::
The survey undertaken by EGLDAM (the former National Committee on Traditional Practices) was a follow up National Survey on Harmful Traditional Practices in Ethiopia 10 years after the first such survey in 1997. Prevalence rates in Tigray and SNNPR are now at 21.2 % and 30.8% respectively, while Addis Ababa is found surprisingly to be as high as 52.2%. Urbanisation and education has been generally been considered to reduce prevalence, but less so in Addis Ababa thans expected. Oromia and Amhara-region, despite the decrease of 20%+, finds prevalence rates of 58.5% and 62.9% respectively.
The only disturbing figures, apart from the still generally high prevalence, is to be found in the pastoralist Somali and Afar-regions. In Somali-region the practice has been found increasing and in Afar only a slight reduction has been registered by the survey. In these regions the most serious practice, infibulation, is also practiced. Dire Dawa, which did not figure in the 1997 survey is also showing high figures (78%), as do Harar (appr. 67%) .
The most encouraging signs are to be found in particular ethnic groups where major change of beaviour has taken place. The practice has been totally eradicated among the Gidole-people, and reduced to only 3.8% among the Mocha Cheko, 3.9% among the Gedio, 5.1% among the Burji and 5.4 among the Mosaye, all in SNNPR.
Ethiopia is a pilot country for Norwegian support to fight FGM and this survey should encourage all organisations to renew their efforts.
Both the 1997 and the 2007 surveys were financially supported by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Addis Ababa.