Violation of women’s productive rights: a case of female genital mutilation in Kapchorwa

Abstract

The study aimed at investigating the violation of women's reproductive rights: A case of Female Genital Mutilation in Kapchorwa District (1970-2007).

This was motivated by the fact that although there have been deliberate attempts and formulation of international and national instruments to encourage the Sabiny community to discard the FGM practice, there seems to be persistent resistance to abandoning it, as evidenced by the number of females who undergo the practice. The study was guided by three objectives: (i) To identify and analyze the relevant human rights instruments to women's reproductive rights, (ii) identify the reasons for carrying out FGM in Kapchorwa District and (iii) to find out the challenges faced in the implementation of human rights instruments to women's reproductive rights. An evaluation of a rights-based approach to FGM was also done.

The study used a case study research design in which both qualitative and quantitative techniques of data collection were employed. The study population included females aged 14-25 (90) and opinion leaders from the elders (12), health workers, and Local Council I Leaders (6), whose gender was not predetermined. In all, 144 respondents were involved in the study. A research administered questionnaire, an interview guide and a focus group discussion guide were used to solicit data. The collected data was presented in frequency counts and score tables with varying percentages calculated. Interpretations and conclusions depended on the number of occurrences on each item. For qualitative data, a scheme of analysis was worked out following the coding. categories, using content analysis, quotations and the most occurring ideas on every question.

The study findings also revealed that though there were some levels of support for the eradication of FGM practice, it is unlikely to end. This is because society has cast a state of sacredness on FGM, especially by institutionalizing its norms and linking contravention of such norms to social disaster and loss of benefits to society. Regarding the use of national and international instruments on women's reproductive rights, there were low levels of awareness, lack of social support, and lack of a practical law that would not complicate relationship elements with other tribes. There was also lack of structures and institutions to popularize the evils associated with FGM by according the victims some degree of special attention.

It was observed and concluded from the study that some respondents did not know anything about human rights. Apart from the health workers and local council I leaders, there was little known about FGM as a form of human rights violation. Most of the respondents took the FGM practice as sacred and part of the Sabiny social values. Apart from the local council leaders and health workers who were aware of some of the Uganda constitutional stipulations, knowledge concerning the international instruments was lacking, and thus, a rights-based approach to women's reproductive rights was not known. Although some females were voluntarily taking part in the FGM operation, some were merely forced and compelled to take part. Coupled with the effects associated with the practice, such as pain, excessive bleeding, painful sexual intercourse and difficulty in child birth, the practice was observed to be violating women's rights. However, respondents attached both material and immaterial benefits to the practice.

It was recommended from the study findings that: The government should increase community awareness about the need for eradicating the practice of FGM, develop tools that can facilitate gender-sensitive FGM policy formulation, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. It was also recommended that there is need to enhance advocacy and lobbying for the recognition of women's Reproductive Health Rights

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Arts in Human Rights in the Department of Philosophy of Makerere University