23 (Kenyan) girls on the run to evade circumcision | The Daily Nation

[Ediacara]

23 girls on the run to evade circumcision

By NATION Correspondent

Some 23 girls in Marakwet District have fled their homes for fear of being circumcised.

The girls, all pupils of Kipkener Primary School, walked at night for more than 50 kilometres from Aror to Kapsowar before a good samaritan paid their bus fare to Eldoret Town. They left Aror at 8 pm and arrived in Kapsowar at 4 am.

The girls, aged between 12 and 16 years, said preparations for the initiation, including the brewing of traditional beer, were complete.

They sought refuge at the Eldoret Centre for Human Rights and Democracy where the organisations director, Mr Ken Wafula, said he would book them at a church institution.

More at the Daily Nation (Nairobi)

[pansypoo53219]

1. the lord

be with them.

[bleedingheart]

2. My prayers are with them.

I hope they evade that barbaric practice!

[Dulcinea]

3. Run, girls, run!

God go with you.

[donsu]

4. good for them

wish I could do more than wish them good luck.

[LifeDuringWartime]

5. i hope they can make it out safely!

n\t

[Waistdeep]

6. "Circumcision" is a misnomer

I think you're talking about clitoridectomy -- removal of part or all of the clitoris. That's in a whole other league entirely.

[jpgray]

7. That's the biggest problem with this--the context si different here

The word "circumcision", directly or indirectly, defuses some of the horror of the act.

[Ediacara]

8. no matter what you call it....

it's still non-concentual genital mutilation (which is what male circumcision is BTW).

[Waistdeep]

9. You misunderstand my point

This is much MORE horrible than traditional western circumcision. When I hear clitoridectomy, I imagine the reaction to removing half of the penis at birth ....

It is genital mutilation, as is circumcision, but it's definitely more extreme.

For what it's worth, I chose not to have my son circumcised in 1983, breaking a family tradition.

[ozymandius]

10. We chose the same with our son, against family traditions.

We took some flak but the issue soon subsided. Our opinion is that the practice is barbaric for both sexes. Female "circumcision", BTW, is illegal in the U.S. Clinton signed this into law in 1995.

[Erika]

12. Where's Laura Bush

and W? They are suppose to be such great champions of women.

[shamanstar]

11. link doesnt work?

can someone help?