Mbulu District Court: Tanzanian Government's FGM Reduction Efforts Gain Momentum

• Tanzania has made significant progress in reducing FGM prevalence rates, with a decline from 15% in 2010 to 8% in 2022.
• Communities in Mbulu District are taking proactive steps to end FGM through education and awareness programmes.
• Women who have experienced FGM are now using their voices to protect girls from the practice that once harmed them.
• The Tanzanian government's efforts to reduce FGM are part of a broader national strategy to end the practice.

Their message is simple: no girl should suffer in the name of tradition.

In recent years, Tanzania has made notable progress in reducing Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), with a significant decline in prevalence rates across the country. According to the 2022 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria Indicator Survey (TDHSMIS), about 8 per cent of women aged 15-49 have undergone FGM, down from 10 per cent in 2015-16 and 15 per cent in 2010. This decline is a testament to the effectiveness of government-led initiatives aimed at eradicating the practice. In Mbulu District, Manyara Region, communities are taking proactive steps to end FGM, with renewed efforts to educate residents about the dangers of the practice.

Women who have experienced FGM are now using their voices to protect girls from the practice that once harmed them. Their message is simple: no girl should suffer in the name of tradition. In many practising communities, older women have traditionally organised or carried out the procedure. Activists say involving these women in awareness programmes is essential because they are respected voices within families and communities. Women like Yasinta Zakaria, who has spoken publicly about her own experience with FGM, are now ambassadors for change in their communities.

The Tanzanian government's efforts to reduce FGM are part of a broader national strategy to end the practice. The second National Multi-Sectoral Strategy to End FGM (2025/26–2029/30) brings together government officials, traditional leaders, religious leaders, and local residents to discuss practical ways of protecting girls from FGM. Traditional leaders like Mr Gaudensi Naribaha have acknowledged that attitudes are beginning to change, with many now recognizing that FGM is a harmful practice that denies girls their dignity and rights. The World Health Organization estimates that more than 230 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM in about 30 countries, mainly in Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia.

Lawyers and compliance officers should monitor the Tanzanian government's efforts to reduce FGM, particularly in regions like Manyara where the practice remains prevalent, as this may impact client advisement on cultural practices and human rights considerations.

Source: Original reporting via Briefly