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SomaliNet Library

Burkina Faso hosts female circumcision conference

Published on: 2008-10-14 02:13:09

(SomaliNet) A three-day conference on combating female circumcision is going on in the West African country Burkina Faso.The participants include president\'s wives from seven African countries.

Meanwhile, female circumcision is still prevalent in around 30 African countries, despite extensive campaigns and strict legislation against the practice.

In host country Burkina Faso, since the mid-1990s those found guilty of carrying out the procedure can be given a five-year jail sentence. Nevertheless, in rural areas it is still common, and almost half of all women in the country are circumcised.

Many see the term female circumcision, which may involve the removal of the clitoris, labia minora and sometimes labia majora, as an inappropriate description of female genital mutilation.- RNW

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