Campaign To End Unsafe Traditional Practices

Jaha Dukureh

Not many of us are aware of the practice of female genital mutilation, much less know someone who has survived that practice. Jaha Dukureh is a survivor, and she has taken her unfortunate experience into organizing to end that practice.

Did you know that approximately 200,000 girls here in the US are at risk to experience that practice here in the US, according to Ms. Dukureh's estimates? It is because they are in families and from areas in the world, where the cutting of female genitals is practiced as part of the culture.



But rather than just discussing this issue, Ms. Dukureh has formed an organization, SAFE HANDS FOR GIRLS, that addresses this issue and other forms of gender-based violence, while also assisting survivors of this practice. But, this organization doesn't just come in after a girl has been forced to submit to this practice, it actually steps in and saves girls from it. Jaha has directly intervened and saved more than 100 girls from this practice.

In addition, Safe Hands For Girls has been instrumental in bringing this practice into public awareness and has also pursued legislation that prevents girls from being transported abroad for the purpose of submitting to this practice. Because of the organization's work, President Obama has also directed the CDC to investigate the occurrences of FGM here in the US.

Regarding her own experience, Jaha has said, "I am passionate about FGM because I have experienced it firsthand and I know that it is a violation of the rights of girls and women. Female genital mutilation has been declared as a human rights violation by the World Health Organization. I don't think any girl deserves to be mutilated in the name of culture."

More activists in Ireland.

In March, Ms. Dukureh traveled with other women activists to Gambissara in Gambia to challenge some of the longstanding traditions, including FGM. For Jaha, the trip also took her to her hometown, where her mother died, and she might actually encounter the woman who did the FGM cutting.

Young female Gambian activists challenging tradition.

The younger women in Gambia have been making a more liberal interpretation of culture and tradition. Three young female activists have challenged the group of women elders about the harmfulness of these traditions, especially FGM. Local residents welcomed the guests with music and songs. This trip offered the opportunity for Jaha to network with the young female activists carrying on the work of challenging harmful traditions.

Thanks for information from this article on Pollination Project: https://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/jaha-dukureh-campaign-to-end-female-genital-mutilation/; this article on Safe Hands For Girls: http://www.safehandsforgirls.org/what-we-do; this article on Safe Hands For Girls: http://www.safehandsforgirls.org/single-post/2016/03/12/Trip-to-Gambisara; and the above link.

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