Senegal's Ministry of Family Affairs and Early Childhood launched on Tuesday a national plan of action to eradicate the illegal practice of female genital mutilation (FGM).
The plan, based on efforts made since 2000, incorporates various partners in an effort to reduce FGM by 90 percent. It prioritises four areas: information, social mobilisation, education, and institutional frameworks. Income-generating activities for the practitioners will be developed and a map showing localities where FGM still exists will be drawn up.
A ministry official said 70 percent of women undergo FGM in Tambacounda area (eastern Senegal) while in Kolda in the south, 88 percent are victims. North- east Senegal is most affected with rates of over 90 percent. Senegal's parliament banned the practice in 1999, a Dakar-based daily, Sud Quotidien, reported on Wednesday.
The programme is supported by UN agencies including UNIFEM, UNICEF, and numerous non-governmental organisations.
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