by Laura M. Bisaillon

10 February 2004

Nairobi, Kenya: A recent UNHCR Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) workshop in Nairobi, attended by delegates from Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan discussed the incidence and impacts of harmful cultural traditions practised on women.

Challenges to the health, security, and psychosocial and sexual well being of women and vulnerable peoples are numerous in camps, dotting the Horn of Africa. Striking case studies illustrate common forms of violence practised against women in the region, and powerful visual documentaries of female genital mutilation (known as FGM) revealed how painful, invasive, yet entrenched, are all forms of FGM across the five Horn countries.

The forms of SGBV practised in Djibouti include rape, domestic violence, and FGM. Current governmental and non-governmental data reveal that FGM is virtually universal in Djibouti – 98% of women are altered, and the practice is common in urban, peri-urban and rural areas.

According to mid-wife Ms Nima Omar who, a community educator with the National Union of Djiboutian Women, and chief organiser of the recent "Casting Aside of the Knives" ceremony held in December 2003 in Djibouti, the practices are carried out in all ethnic groups. UNHCR was represented at the ceremony that assembled over one hundred 'circumsizers' from across the country. These women voluntarily lay aside their cutting tools in a gesture of commitment to stop FGM. Although no data tabulating incidence of FGM in the Djibouti camps are recorded, (they would be difficult to acquire), numbers are likely as universal given the cultural nature and incidence of the practice in Somalia, the country from which over 90% of Djibouti's refugees hail.

SGBV entails a number of harmful practices that violate the human rights of the woman. Virtually no women across the region are spared FGM which is typically performed by a female 'circumsizer' whilst the girl is less than ten years old. The human rights legal framework governing the rights of women and children includes the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948); Convention of Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (1978); African Charter on Human and People's Rights (1981); and African Charter on the Rights of Welfare of the Child (1990), among others.

Harmful practices such as FGM are not condoned in the Coran and are not authorised Islamic practices. In fact, the Coran disallows harmful practices to all human beings. Bringing about change in practice and attitude takes time and patience and cultural sensitivity is necessary. At the same time, ignorance and inhumane practices in the name of erroneous or dogmatic interpretation of religious teachings are not tolerable.

Harmful practices such as FGM are also against the law in Djibouti since 1988. However, it was only in 1993 that amendments were brought to the Penal Code entrenching FGM as punishable by confinement. The punishment for FGM is five years imprisonment and a steep monetary fine (equivalent to $5 700 USD). Articles/laws governing FGM are not enforced given that no persons practising FGM have been imprisoned in Djibouti in spite of the enabling legal environment.

UNHCR Djibouti outlined its immediate, mid-term and follow-up plans in the area of SGBV in the camps. Djibouti is to prepare an Action Plan which will link with projects and people in Somalia and Ethiopia with the view of co-ordinating resettlement projects that provide security and opportunities for women, girls and vulnerable peoples. Last, Djibouti will cultivate enhanced partnerships with men's advocacy groups (such as FEMNET based in Nairobi) and social justice and community organisations achieving success in the area of SGBV education.