CWCR (Migori)
About CWCR
Migori County is among the counties in Kenya that have been leading in incidences of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), sexual and gender-based violence, teenage pregnancy, and HIV/AIDS among other sexual and reproductive health and rights issues. As a response, the Network for Adolescents and Youth of Africa (NAYA) Kenya, Tunaweza Empowerment Organization (TEO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the County Government of Migori are implementing the Catalyzing Whole Community Response (CWCR) Project to end Female Genital Mutilation, Teenage Pregnancy, Child Marriage, and other harmful practices in Migori County.
The Catalyzing Whole Community Response to Ending FGM (CWCR) project design is anchored in the ‘whole of society approach’ which involves, not only relevant government departments and agencies, but also the private sector and civil society including community-based organizations.
Whereas traditional agents have been the major performers of FGM, the project recognizes that FGM is rooted in culture and utilises the whole society approach to engage stakeholders to develop, advocate, implement, and resource FGM programmes and policies, engage media and strengthen public support in mobilization and creating awareness.
The project utilises the following key strategies:
- Capacity Development and Strengthening.
- Meaningful and Inclusive Youth Participation.
- Gender Transformative Approach.
- Men’s involvement.
- Media Advocacy
- Movement Building.
- Evidence-Based Advocacy.
The project Focus:
- Strengthen the capacity of girls and women through training, and mentorship to speak out and advocate for the protection of their rights.
- Empower CSOs and young people to advocate social behaviour change and resource mobilization, through media advocacy and linkages with regional and global youth movements.
- Challenge negative social and gender norms that violate the rights of adolescent girls and young women including FGM and other harmful practices, through engaging community leaders, community members and families in Kuria East and West
- Strengthen Migori County systems for effective coordination and collaboration with relevant stakeholders, to increase uptake of appropriate anti-FGM interventions aimed at prevention, protection and care for girls and women.
Facts About FGM in Migori County
- According to the KDHS 2022, about 15 % of girls and women aged 15-49 in Kenya have undergone FGM. Additionally, 574,121 girls and women risk undergoing FGM by 2030. This presents despite the universal recognition that Female Genital Mutilation has no medical value and violates fundamental human rights.
- The Kuria community who are predominantly in Migori County has among the highest prevalences of FGM in Kenya, standing at about 78% according to KDHS 2014 and a report by UNICEF.
- Twenty-eight per cent (28%) of circumcised women aged 20-24 were circumcised between ages 5-9, and more than seven out of ten (7/10) were cut by age fifteen (KDHS, 2014) leading to severe immediate and long-term health, socio-economic and other effects.
- Kenya is a signatory to some international and regional instruments that also outlaw FGM. During the International Conference on Population and Development in 2019, Kenya committed to ending FGM by strengthening coordination on legislation and policy; communication, advocacy; evidence generation, and support of cross-border collaboration on elimination of FGM by 2022.
- The Constitution of Kenya of 2010, the Prohibition of FGM Act, of 2011, the Sexual Offences Act, of 2006, and other laws outlaw FGM in Kenya and set punishments for offenders.
- The County Government of Migori, also has frameworks to address FGM including the Migori County Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Policy and the Migori County Multisectoral Action Plan to Improve the Health and Wellbeing of Adolescent and Youth Health 2018-2022.
- Perpetrators and offenders have found ways of avoiding the law including conducting FGM at very young ages, holding ceremonies under the disguise of cultural male circumcision, medicalization of FGM, cross-border FGM in Tanzania, and skipping the ceremonies to avoid attracting attention.