Nairobi 2004

Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Introduction in Swahili

I would like to thank the organisers for inviting me to open this International Conference on Female Genital Mutilation whose intention is Developing a Political, Legal and Social Environment to implement the Maputo Protocol. This is a critical issue facing not only Kenya but many other countries, particularly in the African continent. I am therefore pleased to see so many of you here to meet, share ideas and discuss strategies for this important fight: the fight against Female Genital Mutilation.

Let me first welcome all of you who have come from outside Kenya and express my hope and belief that you will have a pleasant stay in our country. I would also like to thank the organisers of this conference, the Office of the Vice-President and Ministry of Home Affairs, the NGO "No Peace Without Justice" and the local civil society organising committee for convening this Conference on an issue of extreme national, regional and international importance. I would also like to thank the European Union, UNICEF, the Italian Corporation and the Canadian International Development Agency for their financial and political support.

This collaboration between government and civil society, between Kenyans and our friends from abroad, is an important feature of this conference. I have often said that Kenya cannot be made great by Government alone: Government of course has its own role to play, but nation building is an exercise that requires many hands and many minds, working together towards a common goal. The same is true of our common goal to see an end to FGM: we need a concerted effort by Government and civil society, local and regional efforts with support from our foreign friends. I am proud that Kenya is able to spearhead this process and that this important event is taking place here in our beautiful country.

As a Kenyan I am proud of the level of equality we promote in our communities. The Kenya nation aspires to offer the same opportunities of safety, freedom, education and choice to all, regardless of gender, race or ethnic identity. The diversity and wealth of African cultural heritage is one of the many aspects of this great continent of which I am proud. Our traditions have been handed down from generation to generation and continue to play an integral role in our national and continental identity. Not only do these traditions strengthen us as a people but they serve as an essential role of promoting our ideals, our beliefs, our history to the international community.

The practice of FGM, however, undermines these aspirations and our rich cultural heritage by stripping the girl child of the right to choose their future and claim their independence. I view FGM as a representation of the historical subservience and inequality of women, going hand in hand with the abuse of women, including domestic violence. Let us leave it in history and only look back so that we might know how to fight it in the future.

The practice of female genital mutilation occurs throughout the world. It is estimated that 135 million women and girls across the world have undergone FGM and nearly two million remain at risk. While FGM is most prevalent in Africa and the Arab world, it is by no means an isolated problem. There are reports of FGM in Asia and among migrant communities the world over, from Australia to North America to Europe. This is truly a global issue deserving the attention of us all.

FGM has a serious negative impact on the health of women and at its most extreme may lead to death. The longer-term effects are also well chronicled and include infection, tumours, discomfort and extreme pain. Currently our nation is faced with HIV/AIDs, which we, as a government, have pledged to fight relentlessly. We cannot close our eyes to the link between FGM and HIV/AIDs. The psychological effects of FGM are also undeniable and serve as yet another reminder of the cruelty of the practice. But strange as it might sound, these are not the main problems with FGM. Solving these problems does not solve the overall problem with FGM. In fact, medicalisation is as much a threat as the practice itself, because it masks the fact that the practice of FGM is a violation of the human rights of women and girls, wherever it is done, under any circumstances.

As I have said before, we cannot, as a nation nor as a global community, succeed unless we invest in human capital. Now is the time for us as a nation and a continent to stand up and declare that we will invest in our girl children: there is no place in our culture for the harmful practice of Female Genital Mutilation. There is no place in our culture for the violation of the human rights and dignity of the women and girl children who contribute to the rich history and potential of this country and this continent.

The national commitment to eradicate FGM is no where more evident than in the significant NGO activities across the country. I am in no doubt that the efforts of many of you have contributed significantly to raising awareness on the negative effects of FGM and have already prevented the mutilation of very many individuals. I would like to thank you for you efforts and assure you that you have the full support of my government.

Despite the tremendous work ahead, we as a nation have made some modest progress. In December 2001, the Kenyan Parliament passed The Children Act, which prohibits the circumcision of girls under the age of 18 and includes prison terms and penalties for violation of that law. In 2003, the Government of Kenya attended the Afro-Arab Expert Consultation on Legal Tools for the Prevention of Female Genital Mutilation, organised by No Peace Without Justice in Cairo. The Cairo declaration, which was a product of the conference and which Kenya fully supports, represents one of the most comprehensive blueprints for the eradication of FGM.