Reproductive Health Matters
Volume 17, Issue 34 , Pages 47-54 , November 2009

The limited effectiveness of legislation against female genital mutilation and the role of community beliefs in Upper East Region, Ghana

  • Matilda Aberese Ako

      Affiliations

    • Research Officer, Navrongo Health Research Centre, Navrongo, Upper East Region, Ghana
  • ,
  • Patricia Akweongo

      Affiliations

    • Research Fellow, Navrongo Health Research Centre, Navrongo, Upper East Region, Ghana

References 

  1. Rahman A, Toubia N. Female Genital Mutilation: A Guide to Laws and Policies Worldwide. London: Zed Books; 2000;
  2. Toubia N. Female Genital Mutilation: A Call for Global Action. New York: RAINB♀; 1995;
  3. In:  Wolfgang B,  Kisaakye E,  Oberleitner G editor. Human Rights of Women: International Instruments and African Experience. London: Biddles; 2002;
  4. Dorgbedo CE. Enhancing CSOs' strategies: a complement to decentralisation for political participation of women at grassroots level in Ghana. MA thesis, Institute of Social Studies, Netherlands, 2003.
  5. Constitution of the Republic of Ghana 1992. Accra: Ghana Review International 1994. At: < www.ghanareview.com/Gconst.html>. Accessed 6 January 2008
  6. Inter-Parliamentary Union. Parliamentary campaign “Stop violence against women”: female genital mutilation. 2009. At: < www.ipu.org/wmn-e/fgm-prov-g.htm>. Accessed 10 February 2009
  7. Aberese Ako M. Female genital mutilation in Ghana: bridging the discrepancy between law and everyday practice. MA thesis, Institute of Social Studies, Netherlands. December 2004.
  8. Female genital mutilation in Ghana. Medical News Today. 2004;At: < www.medicalnewstoday.com>. Accessed 10 January 2009
  9. Ghana MPs want tougher penalties for female genital cutting. Afrol News. 2009;At: < www.afrol.com/articles/21121>. Accessed 10 February 2009
  10. US Department of State. 2001. Ghana: Report on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) or Female Genital Cutting (FGC). At: < www.asylumlaw.org/docs/ghana/usdos01_fgm_Ghana.pdf>. Accessed 9 October 2009
  11. Sayagues M. Female genital mutilation knows no borders. InterPress Service News. 2009;At: < ipsnews.net/africa/nota.asp?idnews=45696>. Accessed 20 February 2009
  12. Dorkenu A. Cutting the Rose: Female Genital Mutilation, the Practice and Its Prevention. London: Minority Rights Publication; 1994;
  13. Jackson FE, Akweongo P, Sakeah E, et al. Inconsistent reporting of female genital cutting status in Northern Ghana: explanatory factors and analytical consequences. Studies in Family Planning. 2003;34(3):200–210
  14. Ghana: practitioners of FGM to serve prison terms when caught. Public Agenda (Accra) 28 January 2008. At: < http://allafrica.com/stories/200801281198.html>. Accessed 12 February 2009
  15. Parliament passes Criminal Code (Amendment) Bill. Ghanaweb. 14 June 2007. At: <www.ghanaweb.com>. Accessed 10 January 2009.
  16. Akweongo P, Appiah-Yeboah S, Sakeah E, et al. The women's thing: gender roles sustaining the practice of female genital mutilation in northern Ghana. Paper presented at Annual Meeting, Population Association of America, Washington DC, March 2001.
  17. Akapule SA. Fighting female genital mutilation in Ghana. Ghanaweb. 17 March 2008;At: < www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive>. Accessed 16 February 2009
  18. Ministry of Women and Children's affairs. 2009. At: < www.mowacghana.net/?q=node/5>. Accessed 20 August 2009
  19. Koita K. Eradicating FGM lacks political will. InterPress Service News. 2007;At: < www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=37877>. Accessed 12 February 2009
  20. Richardson G. Ending female genital mutilation?. The Dominion. 2005;At: < www.dominionpaper.ca/accounts/2005/02/11/ending_fem.html>. Accessed 9 February 2009
  21. Finke E. Genital mutilation as an expression of power structures: ending FGM through education, empowerment of women and removal of taboos. African Journal of Reproductive Health. 2006;10:13–17
  22. Henttonen M, Watts C, Roberts B, et al. Health services for survivors of gender-based violence in northern Uganda: a qualitative study. Reproductive Health Matters. 2008;16(31):122–131

PII: S0968-8080(09)34474-2

doi: 10.1016/S0968-8080(09)34474-2

Reproductive Health Matters
Volume 17, Issue 34 , Pages 47-54 , November 2009