Abstract
Female genital mutilation is a widespread health risk and violates women’s and girls’ rights in many African countries including Ethiopia despite countries promised for the principles of Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa and African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. The problem is still vibrant in different parts of Ethiopia. Female genital mutilation is highly practiced in the Afar community. The community used forward tradition and custom, social status, preserve chastity, increase marriageability, hygiene, and beauty as justification for the practice. The practice of female genital mutilation in the community violates basic human rights of females and children: the right to equality and non-discrimination based on sex, the right to life, and the right to freedom from torture or cruelty and inhuman or degrading treatment. Promoting community outreach activities against the practice, strengthening the enforcement of the law and human rights standards, empowering girls to take a stand against female genital mutilation, and utilizing media to fight female genital mutilation are essential to eradicate the practice in the community.