Violation of Female Reproductive Rights: A case study of Female Genital Mutilation in Amudat District, Karamoja Region.
Date
2019-09
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kampala International University, College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Abstract
The study aimed at investigating the violation of women’s reproductive rights: A case of Female
Genital Mutilation in Amudat District.
This was motivated by the fact that although there have been deliberate attempts and formulation
of international and national instruments to encourage the Pokot community to discard the FGM
practice, there seems to be persistent resistance to abandoning it, as evidenced by the number of
females who undergo the practice. The study was guided by three objectives: (i) To identify and
analyze the relevant human rights instruments to women’s reproductive rights, (ii) identify the
reasons for carrying out FGM in Amudat District and (iii) to find out the challenges faced in the
implementation of human rights instruments to women’s reproductive rights. An evaluation of a
rights-based approach to FGM was also done.
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 (90) and
opinion leaders from the elders (12), health workers, and Local Council I Leaders (6), whose
gender was not predetermined. In all, 144 respondents were involved in the study. A research
administered questionnaire, an interview guide and a focus group discussion guide were used to
solicit data. The collected 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 though there were some levels of support for the
eradication of FGM practice, it is unlikely to end. This is because society has cast 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 women’s reproductive rights, there were low levels of awareness,
lack of social support, and lack of a practical law that would not complicate relationship
elements with other tribes. There was also lack of structures and institutions to popularize the
evils associated with FGM by according the victims some degree of special attention.
Description
A research report submitted to the College of Humanities
and Social Sciences in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Award of Bachelors of
Public Administration and Management of
Kampala International
University.
Keywords
Female Reproductive, Rights, Violation, Amudat District