Senegal: UN denounces collective excision of 11 girls under 5

Eleven girls aged between five months and five years were collectively excised on February 15 in southern Senegal, three UN agencies denounced on Tuesday, February 28, expressing alarm at the persistence of these "harmful practices" in the country and calling for a "collective awakening."

The events took place in the department of Goudomp, in the region of Sédhiou in Casamance (south), according to this joint press release from UNICEF, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and UN Women.

"This is intolerable and inexcusable. It is imperative that we take responsibility so that no girl suffers this fate again and to achieve our common goal of ending female genital mutilation in Senegal," said Tracey Hebert-Seck, UNFPA representative in Senegal, in this press release.

"Although no arrests have been made to date, the three agencies of the United Nations system commend the work of law enforcement and child protection and health services, as well as the commitment of those who reported these crimes and helped identify the victims," ​​the statement continued.

The three agencies "are alarmed that these harmful practices continue to be perpetrated with the complicity of certain members of the community, despite the efforts led by the government."

They call for "strict application of the laws in force" in Senegal, a West African country which played a "pioneering role in the region by adopting a law in 1999" which criminalises in particular "the perpetration, instigation, preparation and/or assistance in an act of female genital mutilation (FGM)".

"It is difficult to understand that such a serious violation of the fundamental rights of girls is taking place in a country that is a pioneer in the fight against FGM," said Arlette Mvondo, UN Women representative in Senegal, quoted in the press release.

"Such a step backwards is unthinkable, given that excision harms the physical integrity, health and future of girls and compromises their dignity. Ending this practice is a necessity to guarantee equal opportunities and respect for human rights," stresses Arlette Mvondo.

In Senegal, nearly two million girls and women have undergone FGM and 12.9% of girls under 15 are excised , according to the UN.

The three agencies, which are calling for a "collective awakening", say they are counting on "the government's commitment to pursue the perpetrators and accomplices and enforce the law".