Five Girls Flee to the Christian Council of Tanzania Community Center to Escape Circumcision Ceremonies
Five girls have fled their homes to the Christian Council of Tanzania (CCT) community center in Serengeti district, northern Tanzania to escape circumcision ceremonies scheduled to start this week.
According to the reports reached APA on Monday, the girls decided to leave their homes after the traditional elders had announced circumcision dates for both boys and girls in parts of the whole district.
The report revealed that the boys’ circumcision had started on December 15, while that of the girls was scheduled to start on Monday.
The coordinator of the Fighting Against Gender-based Violence program in Serengeti district, Sophia Mchonvu confirmed that the girls in question have vacated from their homes to save themselves from the exercise.
Mchonvu revealed that, another girl from Kisangura village, who completed primary school this year, has also gone into hidings.
“With due respect, I request local governments, religious leaders and the public at large to strongly fight against outdated traditions like this and protect young girls from this dangerous exercise,” Mchonve suggested.
She claimed that although such a tradition is strongly rooted in communities in the district and beyond, its implications for girls are far from agreeable.
Mchonvu noted; “Our campaign against this tradition is at stake because some of our program activists and trainers are facing threats from members of the community” she added.
The CCT program coordinator, Reverend Saimon Sala said the campaign to root out circumcision was being undermined by the secrecy shrouding the exercise with circumcision places off-limit to others.
Source African Press Agency
African News from NetNewsPublisher.com
Category: Africa
