East Africa

Womankind has been supporting women in East Africa since 2000.

Our programme covers 6 countries: Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Somaliland, where we work in partnership with 11 women’s organisations across the region to promote women’s human and civil rights and address issues regarding violence against women. The focus is on raising awareness and campaigning to change attitudes towards the practice of Female Genital Mutilation and early marriage, or marriage through force or by abduction. Such practices are widespread throughout East Africa and our partners each bring their own specific local knowledge and experience to the call for change. Together, our work enables women’s voices to be heard – giving vulnerable, marginalised women the practical skills and resources they need to play a full and active part within their families, their communities and their countries.

Womankind’s partnership programmes in East Africa touch the lives of some of the world’s poorest, most marginalised and vulnerable women.?? Over the years we have reached more than 97,000 women, providing practical resources and assistance to:

Challenge and change attitudes and behaviours regarding female circumcision - Female Genital Mutilation - and early or forced marriage, or marriage by abduction?????????
Raise awareness of issues regarding unequal access to health care and education for girls and women
Build women’s own capacity to become leaders and participate in decision-making at all levels, ensuring their needs and concerns are heard and addressed
Strengthen and promote women’s organisations and networks throughout the region, enabling them to share information and lobby to end violence and discrimination against women
Enable women to become economically self sufficient through credit and income generating projects

Our programmes have already resulted in significant change:

Over 20,000 girls in Southern Ethiopia’s Kembatta region are now registered as uncircumcised
More than 200 couples in the region married with a declaration that the bride was not circumcised
Rates of Female Genital Mutilation in Kenya fell from 343 to 143 in 2004
Communities in Sudan are breaking the culture of silence and tolerance regarding Female Genital Mutilation by openly discussing the practice
In? parts of Sudan and Somalia, female circumcision has stopped altogether or been reduced to less severe forms of the practice
In some parts of? East Africa traditional ceremonies to ‘celebrate’ Female Genital Mutilation are being questioned and abandoned in favour of alternative rites to celebrate womanhood
Many Ethiopian girls who were subjected to Female Genital Mutilation are now lobbying for an end to the practice
Many more who escaped early or forced marriage, or marriage by abduction are adding their voices to call for change

Deeply entrenched traditions and attitudes are gradually changing but there is still much to do.

Regional background and women's position in society