Ouagadougou: Traditional leaders, religious leaders (Catholic, Evangelical, and FAIB), women’s and youth organizations from the Tannounyan region pledged on Tuesday in Banfora to abandon the practices of female genital mutilation and child marriage during a ceremony organized by the NGO Children Believe, in partnership with OCADES/Banfora. On behalf of their respective communities, the representatives made public statements calling for the definitive abandonment of female genital mutilation and child marriage in the Tannounyan region.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Monsignor Lucas Kalifa Sanou, Bishop of Banfora, emphasized that OCADES Caritas/Banfora, an arm of the Catholic Church’s social pastoral care, has been actively involved in combating female genital mutilation and child marriage since its inception. He expressed gratitude to partners, Children Believe and UNICEF, for their support through the Yiriwali project. The Secretary General of Comoe Province, Marcel Zanre, representing the High Commissioner, highlighted the necessity for both collective and individual action across various municipalities to combat these practices. He urged municipal, religious, and customary authorities, along with development partners and civil society, to remain steadfast in the fight against early marriage and excision.
Olivia Traore/Bangre, representing Children Believe, stated that the declaration aims to engage and empower communities and their leaders in the fight against child marriage and female genital mutilation through their public commitment. The event also facilitated the distribution of school kits and 70 bicycles to vulnerable students.
Children Believe, in collaboration with OCADES Banfora and financially supported by UNICEF, is implementing the Yiriwali project. The project focuses on empowering women and young people and eliminating female genital mutilation and child marriage in the Tannounyan region.