Equality Now

Female genital mutilation is one topic and issue in Africa that I am very interesting in. This is an practice that I believe should be outlawed. My reason for saying this is because I believe it violates the human rights of women. Equality Now one of many organizations addressing the issue of FGM. The organization was founded in 1992 to work for the protection and promotion of the human rights of women around the world.

Equality now has participated in many women actions to fight against FGM. They have taken part in the enactment of a law against FGM in Mali, protested the failure to enforce the law against FGM in Tanzania, and participated in ending government censorship of the campaign to stop FGM in The Gambia just to name a few.

So other positive things that the organization has done to help address the issue of FGM, is in 1997 the created Awaken. Awaken is an forum designed to facilitate communication among activists campaigning against FGM and the exchange of information, ideas, and strategies to stop the practice. In 2000, they established the Fund for Grassroots Activism to End FGM. This basically provides funds to grassroots orgainzations working to fight FGM in their communities. I think that Equality Now is a wonderful organization making a positive impact on fighting against FGM.