On Monday, an estimated 800 school girls returned to their homes after three months in safe houses to escape female genital mutilation (FGM), which is a rite of passage in some Tanzanian communities. The practice occurs between October and December, forcing young girls to seek protection in shelters run by church organisations and charities.
According to the AFP, the Minister of Labour and Employment (Gaudensia Kabaka) urged traditional leaders to exercise their power and call for an end to the “retrograde practice.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates over 125 million women have undergone FGM in 29 African and Middle Eastern countries.
Source: New Vision/AFP
