Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has vowed to end the practice of Female Genital Mutilation in his country before his tenure expires in 2022.
According to the group “28 Too Many”, one in five Kenyan women between the ages of 15 and 49 have undergone FGM.
The group puts the prevalence rate among women at 21 percent but says progress is being made.
President Kenyatta who was speaking at the Women Deliver conference in Vancouver, Canada said “I hope to put an end to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) practices by the end of my term as the President of Kenya”.
Female genital mutilation has been banned in most African countries due to the physical and psychological impact on victims.
The impact on women is devastating and correcting the effect is impossible in many instances.
“I hope to put an end to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) practices by the end of my term as the President of Kenya” ~President Kenyatta #ThePowerOf Us #WD2019
— State House Kenya (@StateHouseKenya) June 4, 2019
Women are capable to serve
President Kenyatta has also spoken about empowering women to serve.
He told the gathering that “We need to make the society understand that women are as capable as men. We have to create an enabling environment and the opportunity for them to serve”.
The Women Deliver 2019 Conference is the world’s largest gathering on the rights, health and wellbeing of women and girls.
Over 8,000 delegates including world leaders, governments, policy makers, influencers, advocates, academics and activists are attending this year’s conference.
The main agenda for the gathering is to come up with programmes to accelerate progress for girls and women globally.
Throughout the week, we’re asking #WD2019 participants, “How will you use your power for change?”
Think boldly & ambitiously! ? We all have power & when we use it for good – we are that much closer to creating a #GenderEqualWorld. pic.twitter.com/ziUZisW5Ea
— Women Deliver (@WomenDeliver) June 4, 2019
Source: Africafeeds.com