Mali: One Man's Quest to End Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Mali
[IPS] United Nations -- After years of defending FGM as a cultural practice, Sidi Haidara came to a realization: No tradition should come at the expense of a girl's health, rights, or future.
Mali's Sidi Haidara, a community leader, once defended female genital mutilation (FGM) as a cultural tradition. However, after participating in UN Women-led trainings, he now advocates for ending the practice, stating that no tradition should harm a girl's health, rights, or future. FGM is prevalent in Mali, with nine out of ten women and girls having undergone the procedure.
Despite no specific laws criminalizing it, some men launch pro-FGM campaigns. Haidara leads community dialogues to encourage families to protect girls' rights and abandon the practice, fostering conversations around the issue and promoting change.
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