Introduction
Harmful
traditional practices are those customs that are known to have bad effect on
people’s health and to obstruct the goals of equality, political and social
right and the process of economic development. Therefore every social grouping
in the world has specific traditional cultural practices some of which are
beneficial to all members, while others are harmful to a particular group (UN
fact sheet). Harmful traditional practices affect girls more than boys.
traditional practices are those customs that are known to have bad effect on
people’s health and to obstruct the goals of equality, political and social
right and the process of economic development. Therefore every social grouping
in the world has specific traditional cultural practices some of which are
beneficial to all members, while others are harmful to a particular group (UN
fact sheet). Harmful traditional practices affect girls more than boys.
Some of These
Include:
Include:
1.) Female Genital Mutilation (FGM),
2.) Early and forced marriages, son
preferences,
preferences,
3.) The dowry system, etc.
Many of these practices have serious
consequences for the girl child’s physical, emotional and psychological
development.
consequences for the girl child’s physical, emotional and psychological
development.
What We Can Do To
Make a Difference
Make a Difference
1.) Create opportunity for dialogue with men, including
traditional and religious leaders, on girls’ right and discriminatory cultural
norms.
traditional and religious leaders, on girls’ right and discriminatory cultural
norms.
2.) Help increase literacy rate among girls.
3.) Show that FGM is against the international law.
4.) Educate your elders on the dangers of practices such as FGM.
