06/02/2026
Traditional practices do violation human rights!!!!
Subject: Tradition or Torture? The Urgent Need to End Child Marriage and FGM.
For generations, we have held onto customs passed down by our elders, believing them to be the bedrock of our culture and identity. We say, “This is how it is done in our tribe,” or “This is the way of our village.” But we must pause and ask ourselves a critical question: Tradition is good, but to what extent?
When a tradition involves forcing a girl child under the age of 10 into marriage, it is not a cultural practice. It is gender-based violence.
When a tradition involves the removal of a girl’s most sensitive biological parts, it is not a rite of passage. It is torture and an abuse of her fundamental human rights.
We cannot hide behind culture to justify acts that:
Rob a child of her right to life through increased risks of early pregnancy, childbirth complications, and HIV/AIDS.
Silence her right to freedom of expression – by denying her education, her voice, and her choice to determine her own future.
Violate international covenants like CEDAW (The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) which clearly condemns discrimination and harmful practices against women and girls.
Do people need to die for a tradition? Do our girls need to endure lifelong physical and psychological pain for us to feel we have honored our past?
The answer is a resounding NO.
What we are talking about is not the preservation of beautiful dances, respectful greetings, or communal solidarity. Those are traditions worth keeping. We are talking about practices that permanently damage the bodies, minds, and futures of our children. This is a universal issue of human rights, and it must stop.
It is time for courage. It is time to say that some norms need to be amended and revised. Our love for our culture should not be blind. True honor for our ancestors lies in protecting their descendants, not in perpetuating their mistakes.
Let us be the generation that says ENOUGH.
Let us be the guardians who protect our daughters, not the perpetrators who harm them.
Let us redefine our traditions to nurture life, not to end it.
United Nations
