Female genital mutilation is a global problem – every year, more than 2 million girls worldwide experience female genital mutilation, often before their fifth birthday, and sometimes within days of being born.
The practice is most widespread in Africa, where 144 million women and girls have been cut. Many countries are still lacking national laws prohibiting female genital mutilation.
Mali is a case in point, says Traoré, it does not have a national law explicitly prohibiting the practice.
“We asked the Government of Mali to pass a law banning the practice. Since then, we’ve helped politicians to draw up draft legislation to ban the practice,” shares Traoré, adding that advocates are still waiting for the passage of the law.
In the absence of a law prohibiting it, perpetrators of female genital mutilation enjoy full immunity. What’s more, as neighbouring countries pass legislation to ban female genital mutilation, Mali has made a reputation of being a haven for perpetrators.
“The countries around us, such as Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea and Niger, have passed laws banning the practice. But people leave their countries to come and excise their children here in Mali because we are said to be [female genital mutilation] professionals,” explains Traoré.
“Some people even leave Europe to come and be excised here.”