Thirteen Communities That Dared

Abandoning

Excision
In The Fouta

Thirteen

Communities That Dared

By
Sileye Dia. Translated By Jessie Mitchell and Kelly Bauhofer.

October
25- 26, 2003
WalFadjri

The declarations
read by Ngouré Dia and Farmata Djiby Kane, in French and Pulaar
respectively, last Wednesday in Sédo Abass (Region of Matam) were
received with overwhelming applause. Molly Melching, the executive director
of the NGO, Tostan, could not help but breathe a sigh of relief after
twelve long years of work. The women in this very conservative zone also
took this opportunity to pay tribute to Anna Lindh, the late Swedish Minister
of Foreign Affairs, assassinated on September 10th in Stockholm:

“We
take this opportunity to affirm our commitment to the promotion of human
rights and the health of women and girls in our community. In addition,
we have freely and consciously decided to put an end to the practice of
female genital cutting and early and forced marriage which, according
to our religious values, are violations of women’s and girls’ rights to
physical integrity and health. This declaration is the first step in a
series of planned actions for the greater respect of human rights here
in the Fouta. The village populations thank UNICEF, the Wallace Research
Foundation, the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA, headed
by the late Anna Lindh) and the NGO Tostan, and are mobilizing to spread
the message in their
communities, for the triumph of the ideals of health and democracy and
the emergence of a culture promoting human rights. The following thirteen
villages made this declaration: Sédo Abass, Sédo Sannarabé,
Nat Kissa, Thiarène, Ndouloumadji Dembé, Ndouloumadji Founébé,
Dara Salam, Ogo Deïba, Nawel, Wassa Koddé and Sinthiane Dar
Salam.”

Many people
remember the violent reaction of people of this region several years ago
in Aéré Lao and Ourossogui when they were not even allowed
to meet with the women to discuss these issues. They are especially able
to appreciate this great step forward of the Pulaar communities that once
saw
excision as a necessary step for a girl to become a real woman.Representatives
from fifty-four villages throughout the Fouta (coming from the regions
of Saint Louis and Matam) set the tone for the declaration, with banners
that read:

For
the abandonment of practices harmful to the health of women and girls,
particularly: early marriage and excision

For
the abandonment of all forms of violence and discrimination against women

and

Yes
to the respect and promotion of human rights and democracy

In the presence
of many village chiefs, religious leaders, local and administrative authorities,
and between skits and songs the Tostan facilitator in Sédo Abass,
Coumba Tokola, recited part of a poem, “We are one hundred and forty
participants who have learned human rights, some of which were frequently
violated in our communities because of the practices of excision and early
and forced marriages. With the knowledge gained from the Tostan program,
we have decided to abandon these practices
and to fight for the integrity of women.”

Dieynaba
Kâ from Ndouloumadji Dembé, the spokesperson for the cutters,
accompanied by six of her colleagues, expressed a similar position. Swearing
before God, she said that she had forever abandoned the practice of excision,
and had traveled throughout the region of Matam, raising awareness among
other circumcisers. These women, including elders, also declared
abandonment. “We have abandoned and we will not go back,” she
declared before the enthusiastic crowd. Faty Binta Niang, the coordinator
for the women of Ogo, completely agreed.

For Molly
Melching, the ceremony paid tribute to Anna Lindh, but also honored the
people of the Fouta who proclaimed their complete dedication to the universal
values of the respect and dignity of human beings, “through a historic
declaration for the health of women and girls of the Fouta. Tostan would
like to recognize the efforts and involvement of the imams, village
chiefs, women, and the children gathered here. We know that your decision
today will be the spark that lights a fire and grows to illuminate all
of Senegal, bringing health, well-being, solidarity, love and respect
to the people of Senegal and across Africa. Your mission is a noble mission
of which we are all proud to be a part.”

Another more
formal public declaration is now being planned for 40 villages in Ogo
in January 2004.

WOMEN’S
HEALTH

The participants
of the declaration are reassured by the full support of local government
authorities. For the Governor and Prefet, it is an historic event and
they rejoice that the people understand the the need to abandon harmful
practices.

The Gouvernment
Promises Full Support to Villagers

A member
of the Senegalese Parliament, Adama Daouda Diop, representing the Network
for Population and Development at the Sedo Abas Declaration considers
that the decision to abandon excision in the heart of the Fouta, is a
“dream that has become a reality,” since, in this region, “excision
was deeply rooted in the culture and has existed for centuries. Some people
do
not understand that the development of a region and a country depends
on the health of the individuals. Without reproductive health, women cannot
produce. If they do not go for health care, they will not have children.
And without children, there will not be development.”

For the parliamentarian,
“the human rights of men, women and children are universal. Women
have endured oppression for ages. They have not had any power. This should
have changed long ago. They had no decision-making authority. The problem
remains. We must fight. As to the circumcision of women, we say no. To
forced and early marriage, we say no. There are now
laws that protect the people and the interests of women.”

The Swedish
ambassador to Senegal, Mrs. Annika Magnusson, explained that Anna Lindh,
the late Swedish minister, “dedicated herself to the most vulnerable
and marginalized men and women. She used her political power to defend
human rights, especially women’s rights. Although Anna Lindh was just
like any other woman, she stood out among her peers. She was an
exceptionally dedicated mother of two boys, all the while playing an important
role in international politics in Europe and throughout the world.”
Thus, Magnusson promised, “we are going to continue working in her
spirit.”

The diplomat
declared that the actions taken by the people of Matam affirmed their
recognition and dedication to human rights. For her, the declaration “will
certainly benefit future generations of girls in the Fouta region.”
The Swedish ambassador has given financial support fifty-four villages
in the region and she is very happy and proud of the results they have
achieved. She added that SIDA’s philosophy is to create conditions that
promote development. “It is up to you, fully aware of your sense
of responsibility, to determine your future,” she said.

Ibrahima
Sakho, Administrator representing the Governor of the Matam region, in
the presence of the “Prefet” Mar Lô, recalled the different
events that led to this declaration. For him, “Senegal addressed
human rights by ratifying the most important conventions. The government
strives through various services, associations, and regional, national
or international NGOs, to ensure that these rights are respected and that
this translates into the well-being and health of people at all levels
of society. Now it is time to ask the villagers of Sédo Abass to
educate other communities throughout the region. The villagers have demonstrated
that they have the capacity to understand and apply their knowledge of
health. They have been open to new public policy, especially concerning
reproductive health. We must continue in this direction so that other
communities become part of this movement, and so that we no longer experience
such human rights violations in our country.”

Samba Nguébane,
the president of the Rural Community of Nabadji Ciwol, commented, “Sédo
Abass is very proud to receive the people of these 31 villages that make
up this zone (with a population of 41,206 inhabitants),” and prays
for the success of this initiative. Mouhamadou Thiam, representing the
Village Chief of Ogo, agreed as did Mamadou Kâ, the Village Chief
of Katoté. Astou Sow, the representative of the community midwives
and health workers, could not help but rejoice: “It is an important
day for me and all of the health workers, especially the nurses from the
health posts of the Matam and Podor regions. Since 1992, we have fought
for the abandonment of excision. The sponsors of these programs greatly
helped us carry out our activities.”

After the
Imam from Sédo Abass, Thierno Abou Dia gave his blessings, the
Village Chief Samba Demba Sall said the event had been well prepared.
He said he wholeheartedly supported the villagers. “We agree with
Tostan’s ideals of understanding, development initiatives, hygiene, health,
human rights, peaceful coexistence-We informed everyone about the event:
our
neighbors, local authorities, governors, mayors, as well as the prefet,
etc.- We invited all of the communities, leaving no one out. Many gave
material and financial support. The mayors of Matam and Thilogne were
also very supportive.”

TRIBUTE
TO ANNA LINDH

The
Fouta, Grateful and Honoring Her Memory

Anna Lindh,
the Swedish Minister of foreign Affairs, was assassinated on September
10th in Stockholm. The ceremony of Sédo Abass was organized in
part to pay tribute to the late minister. Anna Lindh had dedicated herself
to human rights. She was among the leaders of the Swedish International
Development Agency (SIDA) that for many years has financed projects in
the Fouta. Thus a special tribute was given in her honor, in the presence
of the Swedish ambassador to Senegal, Annika Magnusson, and First Secretary
Göran Björkdahl, in charge of SIDA¹s program in the sub-region.

All of the
speakers expressed their condolences. Ngouré Dia and Farmata Djiby
Kane honored “the memory of this great peace and human rights activist,
who was particularly dedicated to the rights of women and children, for
the respect of human dignity throughout the world.” After pausing
for a moment of silence, they continued: “In this time of pain felt
by the entire international community and all human rights activists,
we
renew our gratitude to the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA)
for supporting democracy, health and sustainable development in fifty-four
local communities.”

According
to Molly Melching, the Executive Director of Tostan, her organization
has worked with the people of the Fouta since 1992. In collaboration with
Unicef, SIDA, the Wallace Research Foundation, and the Rapidan foundation,
Tostan has implemented its basic education program for women, men and
adolescents in over two hundred and fifty villages in Matam
and Podor. Micro-credit, health and hygiene projects were created to improve
living conditions for all men, women and children. SIDA has supported
Tostan’s education, literacy and micro-credit programs.

The Swedish
Ambassador noted that Anna Lindh’s tragic and brutal death has profoundly
affected many. She added, “Anna Lindh dedicated herself to the most
vulnerable and marginalized men and women. She used her political power
to defend human rights, especially women¹s rights. Although Anna
Lindh was just like any other woman, she stood out among her peers. She
was
an exceptionally dedicated mother of two boys, while playing an important
role in international politics in Europe and throughout the world.”