Dr Oumou Maïga Diakité: Female genital mutilation is a priority here, affecting more than 90% of women. Since it is a gender issue, it is the purview of the Ministry of Women's Affairs. For the Department of Health, I am responsible for coordinating the fight against FGM. The need to combat FGM has been phrased in a resolution to the World Health Assembly in May[1], a resolution which was adopted after a close consultation. The resolution invites Member States to strengthen prevention and to increase research funding in these areas because there is not enough evidence and not enough data to plan future actions. We rely on Member States for this project.
Question : How long have you been involved in the fight against FGM?
Dr Oumou Maïga Diakité: Since 2001 I work on statistics which is fundamental to advance decision-making. Our goal is to move towards the total elimination of the practice.
Medicalization only aggravates the situation: in fact, very very young girls are mutilated by the nursing staff, whereas before they were later mutilated. There is the belief that to perform the operation in the care makes it harmless and safe, while the consequences for girls and women are the same, with sometimes terrible suffering in the reports and especially during childbirth.
Question : What strategies are worth pursuing?
Dr Oumou Maïga Diakité: This is a violation of women's rights. Our Minister for the Advancement of Women, Ms. Keita has always worked in campaigns to raise awareness, involving communities, faith groups. The results are encouraging; there are significant reductions in the practice in some areas. But much remains to be done.
[1] The resolution can be read at : http://www.figo.org/news/WHA_FGM
