Ibrahima Traore

Excision in Mali, when will it end? Ibrahima Traore

Excision is a scourge that is eating away at Malian society and its practice is still defended by religious currents that are opposed to a law against female genital mutilation. Through this essay, the author recounts the relentless fight against Female Genital Mutilation led by Joséphine TRAORE (Director of the National Programme for the Fight against Excision from 2002 to 2015). For 13 years, she fought body and soul for the abandonment of the practice of Excision in Mali, beyond the criticisms and prejudices of society. This book draws a general map of the practice of FGC in Mali and allows readers to have an overview of FGM which is a violation of women's rights. In this constant struggle against FGM, the country needs a whistleblower. The prospect of a law to ban FGM is still divisive. This plea by Joséphine TRAORE should allow us to go beyond this smokescreen, to open the critical field of reflection around FGM in order to promote the vote of a banning law in the hemicycle.