ABSTRACT

The study focused on Female genital mutilation/circumcision in Kween district, eastern Uganda, the study objectives sought to establish; (i) the relationship between Female genital mutilation and women participation in development (ii) the reasons for carrying out FGM (iii) To establish the relevant human rights instruments to fight FGM (iv) To establish the possible challenges faced in the implementation of the instruments to fight Female Genital Mutilation are terms used to incorporate a wide range of traditional practices that involve the partial or total removal of the external female genital organs based on traditional and cultural reasons, The study was motivated by the fact that although there have been deliberate attempts and formulation of both international and national instruments to discourage the Sabiny community to discard FGM practice, there seems to be persistent resistance to abandoning it, as evidenced by the number of females who undergo the practice, The study used a case study research design in which both qualitative and quantitative techniques of data collection were employed. The study population included females aged 14-25 and also opinion leaders from the elders, health workers and local council leaders, in all 144 respondents were involved in the study. A research administered questions; interview guide and focus group discussion were also used to solicit data. The data was presented in frequency counts and score tables with varying percentages calculated, interpretations and conclusions depended on the number of occurrences on each item, For qualitative data, a scheme of analysis was worked out following the coding. categories, using content analysis, quotations and the most occurring ideas on every question. The study findings also revealed that there were some levels of support for the eradication of FGM practice is unlikely to end. This is because society has a state of sacredness on FGM, especially by institutionalizing its norms and linking contravention of such norms to social disaster and loss of benefits to society, regarding the use of national and international instruments on FGM, there were low levels of awareness, lack of social support, and lack of practical law that would not complicate relationships elements with other tribes, It was recommended from the study finding that the government should increase community awareness about the need for eradicating the practice of FGM, formulation of policies, planning, monitoring and evaluation It was also recommended that there is need to enhance advocacy and lobbying for the recognition of women’s reproductive rights 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION

APPROVAL ii

LIST OF ACRONYMS iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS v

LIST OF TABLES viii

LIST OF FIGURES ix

ABSTRACT

vx

CHAPTER ONE; INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Background of the Study 1

1.1.1 Historical perspective

1.1.2 Theoretical Perspective 2

1.1 .3 Contextual Perspective 2

1.1 .4 Conceptual perspective 3

1.2 Statement of the Problem 5

1.3. General objective 6

1.3.1 Specific objectives of the study 6

1.4 Scope of the study 6

1.5. Research questions 6

1.7 Significance of the study 7

1.8 Conceptual framework 8

1.9. The relationship between FGM and women participation in development 9

CHAPTER TWO; LITERECTURE REVIEW 11

2.0 Introduction 11

2.1. Theoretical framework II

2.2. List of constructs and variables relevant to the study II

2.3. Statistical analysis 12

2.4. Social science theories that can be used to explain FGM 12

V

2.5 Reasons for carrying out FGM practice 13

2.6. Related literature 14

2.8. Literature gab 15

2.8 The Relevant Human Rights instruments to fight FGM 15

2.10. Laws in other countries 19

2.11. The challenges faced in the implementation of human rights instruments 22

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY 25

3.0 Introduction 25

3.1 Research design 25

3.2 The Study Area 25

3.2.1 Population of the study 26

3.3 Sample selection methods and size 26

3.3.1 Selection of communities 26

3.3.2 Selection of respondents 26

3.4 Research Instruments 26

3.4.1 Research-administered Questionnaires 27

3.4.2 Interview Guides 27

3.4.3 Focus group discussion guide 27

3.4.4 Written documents 27

3.5 Data analysis 27

3.5.1 Quantitative data analysis 27

3.5.2 Qualitative data analysis 28

3 .6Ethical considerations 28

CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

29

4.1 Introduction 29

4.2 Respondents socio-economic background 29

4.2.1 Age of respondents 29

4.2.2 Sex of respondents 3 1

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4.2.3 Respondents’ level of Education .32

4.2.4 Respondents’ Religion 34

4.3 Reasons for carrying out FGM in Kween District 35

4.3.1 The Status for Carrying Out FGM 37

4.3.2 Circumcision status for the female respondents 38

4.3.3 Type of circumcision commonly used 39

4.3.4 State of the instruments used 42

4.4 The Relevant Human Rights instruments to fight FGM 43

4.4.1 Awareness about women’s rights 44

4.4.2 Awareness of international and national instruments human rights 46

4.5 Challenges faced in implementation of human rights instruments in fight against FGM 47

4.5.1 Women’s social status 47

4.5.2 Social support for the eradication of FGM practice 49

4.5.3 Weak enforcement Mechanism 50

4.5.4 Resistance at community level 50

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 52

5.1 Introduction 52

5.2 Summary 52

5.2.1 The status and reasons for carrying out FGM practice among the Sabiny 52

5.2.2 The relevant human rights instruments to fight FGM in Kween District 53

5.2.3 Challenges of implementation 54

5.3 Conclusions 54

5.4 Recommendations 55

5.5 Areas for further research 56

REFERENCES 57