Ugandan Communtiy Shows Promise

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081015/hl_afp/ugandahealthwomen

A community in Uganda, is hoping for a brighter future for women. Kampala is a working toward outlawing the practice of female mutilation, by submitting their district council's ordinance to parliament, so that it can be enforced by the police. According to the Female Genital Cutting Education and Networking Project, Uganda has a prevalence rate of about 5% for the practice of Female mutilation. This is definitely a substantially smaller percentage as compared with other African countries. It is obvious that Uganda has been successful in the past at eradicating this practice, all the more reason to have faith that this ordinance will pass.
As discussed in this article, women are becoming more educated on the effects of such a practice. Perhaps, Uganda has especially pushed for more education, and consequently, has lower prevalence rates. The belief that women who marry, with out receiving this operation, will be stricken with illness has become fable. Ironically, it is these women, who undergo this procedure, who will be more likely to contract HIV. Women in this community, are now aware that these are really just ridiculous unfounded superstitions. More recently, many in this community, have come to understand the deeper issues that accompany this procedure. Specifically, this article mentions briefly that it is a violation of womens' rights.
In todays world, women are becoming much more aware of their importance and equal position in society. No longer are women being misguided about their right to give voice to their situation. This has been empowering for women, who have perhaps, never have been comfortable with the practice of genital mutilation. When combating deeply woven traditions, irrefutable facts are the best tool for debunking the false claims, and now women are gaining this instrument.