WUNRN
Direct Link to Full 80-Page 2013
Report:
The
prime purpose of this Ethiopia FGM Country Profile is to provide improved
understanding of the issues relating to FGM in the wider framework of gender
equality and social change in Ethiopia. By collating the research to date, this
Country Profile can act as a benchmark to profile the current situation. As
organisations send us their findings, reports, tools and models of change, we
can update these reports and show where progress is being made. Whilst there
are numerous challenges to overcome before FGM is eradicated in Ethiopia, many
programmes are making positive active change and government legislation offers
a useful base platform for deterring FGM practice.
This Ethiopia Profile shows (with earlier data,) FGM
in 15-49 year olds has decreased by 16%, from 73% (NCTPE, 1997) to 57% (EGLDAM,
2007). The national DHS survey showed a reduction of 5.6% prevalence over 5
years: 79.9% (2000) to 74.3% (2005), however, the survey was not repeated in
the latest DHS published in 2011. (More recent statistics are needed.)
Despite this progress, FGM remains a serious concern
in Ethiopia and has affected 23.8 million women and girls, making it the second
highest country in Africa by affected numbers. This is due to FGM being carried
out across the majority of regions and ethnic groups, with the highest adoption
being in Afar in the north east (up to 91.6%), the Somali region in the south
east bordering Somalia (up to 97.3%) and in Dire Dawa (92.3%). FGM in Ethiopia is
associated with other harmful traditional practices, and is linked with low
female literacy rates; inequality of women’s status, early marriage and poor
economic/political opportunity.....
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