Ethiopia: A girl dances in the initiation ceremony that leads to her circumcision. If she refuses FGM she will be discriminated against or ostracized by her community

Many Vow Against FGM in Arusha

"On White Ribbon Day in Arusha, Tanzania, the Regional Commissioner addressed hundreds of the people at the market place on a rainy, muddy day. After learning that FGM is one of the causes of problems in childbirth, twenty female circumcisers vowed not to continue the practice and publicly gave up their tools. WRA members in Arusha had worked with the group of circumcisers to organize alternative sources of income (because for each circumcision they were paid Tsh 20,000) and they are now involved in bead crafts. Other rallies organized by WRA members in Dar es Salaam, Manyara, Mwanza, Tanga, Iringa, Mtwara, Zanzibar, Tabora, and Arusha were also effective. It is worth mentioning that once a Maasai vows against something they will never go back."