More than 800 Malians gathered on Saturday, December 3, in the village of Sabouciré N'di in the Kayes region of Mali to celebrate the abandonment of female genital mutilation and early marriage by 41 villages. Photographs and videos of the ceremony, taken by two professionals present for the occasion, will soon be compiled into a web documentary.
This ceremony was an opportunity for those involved in the project to share their personal experiences and congratulate the new villages that had abandoned the practice. Traditional songs and dances, as well as poems and sketches denouncing female genital mutilation and early marriage, punctuated this festive event. The highlight of the ceremony was the broadcast of messages from a man and a woman, originally from Kayes and now living in France. Their support for the abandonment process is important for the communities.
A major event in the region, the ceremony received extensive media coverage, with broadcasts on several radio stations and a local television channel.
The culmination of extensive awareness-raising efforts
The activities of AMSOPT, Equipop's Malian partner, have greatly contributed to social change in the area. Indeed, this abandonment ceremony is the result of significant communication efforts aimed at changing behaviors. It is carried out by AMSOPT facilitators through home visits, talks, and radio broadcasts. Advocacy activities with municipal and village authorities, capacity building for target groups, and management of complications related to female genital mutilation have also led communities to commit to abandoning FGM and early marriage. The "Protecting the Next Generation" project by Equipop and AMSOPT is a holistic and integrated project. It has once again proven its effectiveness, as this is the fifth abandonment ceremony organized by AMSOPT. The project has recently received support from UNICEF, AFD, UNFPA, FSD (French Embassy), Australian Cooperation, and the Orange Foundation.
