Date:  12/4/2007
Source:   SEIEDA KEDIR (Bsc) Oromia Women’s Affairs Bureau
Title:  HARMFUL TRADITIONAL PRACTICES IN OROMIA REGIONAL STATE: THE CASE OF ARSI AND EAST SHEWA ZONES IN FOCUS

Program Evaluation
January 2007

Executive Summery
Women’s issue is a development issue and, thus, every one has to give a great attention to tackle

this hindrance in order to alleviate poverty. At present, gender issues have got attention not because they are

the fashion of the day, but it is to bring a sustainable and continuous development. Accordingly, Oromia women

affairs’ Bureau (OWAB) has sought to prepare intervention programs to alleviate harmful traditional practices

such as marriage by abduction and female genital mutilation in Arsi and East showa Zone. This practice is a

serious obstacle to socio-cultural and psychological development of the majority of the zones’ people.
It is in this light that I have underlined the cases in the two areas to investigate how far the

desired goal and objectives have been met, the changes have been made and the problem encountered and measures

taken. As it has been stated in annual plan of OWAB, the desired goal of the program was, “by bringing

attitudinal and behavioral change, alleviate HTP in order to secure gender equality” (p.3). This quote

underlines that there should be fundamental attitudinal and behavioral changes to make gender equality a

reality. If this is done the status quo thinking is eroded and there will a shift.
The findings of the study reveal that even if there are a lot of resistances among the society, the

intervention program was partially accomplished. Since the program is about human behavior, detaching the

behavior of the individuals from usual and old thinking and transforming to a new level of thinking has been

emphasized. As this task is not easy perseverance is very important. However, according to my finding, the

intervention program has a positive impact on bringing changes. It is possible to say that female circumcision

and marriage by abduction are minimal. In addition, it has been found that majority of the community are well

aware about the effect of HTP. Moreover, they have understood that both their sons and daughters are equal and

have stated sending the daughters to a school.

In order to bring fundamental changes in the society, the women’s case is high on the agenda and in favor of

them some articles are added and some of the existing ones are modified. However, the implementation of them is

at its infancy age. Furthermore, the implementation of family law and penal code is not as expected because of

gender bias. Unless there is a match between what is on the paper and what is going on, transformation is

unthinkable. Therefore, this area needs further interventions through justice reform programs.
Lastly, based on the findings, recommendations that include the following points have been given.
1. The governmental leaders at all levels should be committed to transform them selves in order to change

others to avoid gender based violence and enhancement of women participation.
2. Insuring whether women’s concern is considered or mainstreamed in governmental and non governmental

organizations.
3. The political pressure or commitment that is more responsive for article 35 (declaration of women’

right) of the constitution must activate the implementation of the program and accelerate the elimination of

HTP.
4. Bringing women to decision making position, designing gender sensitive plans and allocating appropriate

gender budget.
5. Increasing women’s participation in justice area is a good option to alleviate violence against women.
6. Empowering traditional and religious leaders to enact the customary law and seek to implement
Introduction
Oromia is the largest regional state in Ethiopia with a total land area of 366,910 square kilometers.

The administration is divided into 17 zones (equivalent of province), 245 aanas(equivalent with district), and

6451 kebeles (the smallest unit with about 5000 house holed) with the current population size of 27 million.

Arsi and East-Shewa are located in the central south east part of the state. As Strategic plan of the Regional

Women Affairs Bureau reveals, women of Oromia that constitute more than half of total population are

suffering from different social, cultural and economical problems.
Similarly, as the regional government five years plan (1998 E.C.) indicates, more than 45% of the

population lives under poverty line in which more than 50% of these are women. Since the region is consisting

diversified culture, tradition and costumes, that emphasized the subordination of women and male supremacy, was

widely implemented.
In a similar manner, the total population of Arsi and East-Shewa is 2.8 million and 2.6 million, respectively.

In addition, women, who are more than half part of the total population, are victimized by harmful traditional

practices (HTP) which are widely practiced in those two zones. As a result of this, high illiteracy rate and

poverty are serious challenges which confront the entire life of women as well as her family. In order to

secure gender equality, Oromia Women affairs’ Bureau (OWAB) has made interventions to alleviate the problem by

undertaking different programs and activities.
Therefore, this study is am attempt to reveal a clear picture whether the desired goal and the

designed program have been achieved in order to resolve the problem. Beside this, the objectives of this

evaluation are:

1. to asses and evaluate the extent to which the plight situation of HTP had been alleviated from the

sampled districts of Arsi and East Shewa.
2. to asses and know the role played by the community members and government sectors in the process of

abolishing marriage by abduction and female genital mutilation.
Background
Because of cultural dominations, women are not accessible for different opportunities in the

constitution. Low participation rate and performance in education, which resulted in high illiteracy rate, lack

of property inheritance right, very law participation in decision making and totally low participation in socio

economic and political situations are the main problems. On the other hand, harmful traditional practices such

as abduction, rape, early marriage, circumcision, widow inheritance, subordinate sayings and the like are major

problems which deteriorate the entire life of women in the region especially in the two sample Zones.
These critical practices made women to develop the high level of dependency and lose of confidence.

This situation resulted in backwardness, high illiteracy rate and poverty to the region as well as to the

country. However, the government has signed and ratified different conventions concerning women and also has

exerted a great effort to solve the problem. Also the government established women’s affairs structure ten

years back and endorsed the mandate to amend the situation. Consequently, the government has stipulated all

rights of women in the constitution, has formulated suitable women’s policy, family law, and revised penal

code.
Oromia women’s affair Bureau (OWFB) is one of those structures which has accomplished different

activities concerning women problem and has clearly defined its mission as follows.
Mission
“To make women participate in political, economic and social activities as equally as men in the region, to

avoid the influence and oppression in a complicated way by organizing them in association and facilitating the

condition by which they will be incorporated in government’s plan in gender to make their rights be kept and

assessing their equality” (The strategic plan of OWAB).
On the other hand, as stated in the proclamation, the Bureau has a clear responsibility and duties.

From these duties, which is concerned with traditional practice reads as: “working seriously to avoid gender

based violence and create awareness of the society to alleviate harmful traditional practice which affect

women’s life and right at large plays a pivotal role?” This quote emphasizes that there should be a real

commitment to fight the problems that hinder the empowerment of women. The Bureau is undertaking three main

programs: organizing women at a grass root level, elimination of HTP and research and project preparation. By

designing different activities immense amount of achievements have been achieved. Besides, the activities are

stretched to lower government structure, which are our stakeholders, in order to meet the purpose it has been

established for. Beside this, as it was stated in annual plan of Bureau, the desired goal of the program is “by

bringing attitudinal and behavioral change, alleviate HTP in order to securing gender equality” (p.3).
Similarly, in the same document, the objective of the program has been stated: “within three years

create gender awareness among the community as well as organize women in different associations to build their

economic and decision making capacity” (p.4). Here, awareness creation and organization of the community are

underscored. This is very important to enroll and empower the grass root community.
Although, the accomplishment of the entire program continually leads the Bureau to achieve the

ultimate goal which is creating courageous people to bring a sustainable development. On the other hand, the

Bureau has designed its short and long term activities. Based on the expected outcomes, resources have also

been allocated. The main activities that significantly contribute to the alleviation of HTP include:
1. Conducting awareness creation within the society at large,
2. Introducing the newly published family law and penal code for higher officials including the

community.
3. Mainstreaming the program, establishing HTP committee in high schools and at Kebele level in a

sustainable way.
In the same manner, as it is pointed out in the annual plan, the bureau has designed the activities as

mentioned below.
1. Bring behavioral changes within the society,
2. The society commit itself and decide to struggle against HTP,
3. By eliminating HTP, enhancing women’s participation in all aspects, and
4. Women get justice and practice their rights (OWAB 1998 E.C. annual plan).
In order to achieve the desired goal and accomplish the underlined activities, the regional government,

agencies like UNICEF have provided fund to implement the program.
Literature Review
The important questions to be asked to address the women’s problems include the following. To what

extent harmful practices inflict women? How can the problems affect the overall development? What measures are

to be taken to tackle the problems?
The National Committee on Traditional Practices of Ethiopia (NCTPE), in their book:
Old Beyond Imaginings (2003) stated that culture is an asset of a society. “Human beings are distinguished

from animals because they handle different tools, techniques, division of labor, system of beliefs, ritual and

can manifest them using languages” (p.27). Also they have different characteristics which are only limited to

people. Thus, the culture of a given society is a reflection of the reaction between human being and

environment. NCTPE (2003) has indicated this idea and indicated that differences in cultures occur because of

environmental differences (NCTPE 2003). The differences in the environment can also cause differences in the

way women are treated. NCTPE pointed out “There are a number of HTP that are specifically directed to women

such as female genital mutilation, early marriage, marriage by abduction, and the like” (NCTPE 2003:33). NCTPE

(2003: 33) again r eveals how religions discriminate women as given below:
A woman who is bleeding either as a result of her menstrual period or after child birth is considered unclean

and is not allowed to join religious or social services such as entering the church (Orthodox Church) or

carrying out the ‘Solat’ for Muslim women.
We realize the practice mentioned above has been affecting the physical and mental well being of women

in an alarming way. Because of this segregation, they do not join people and share views. In other words, they

are deemed for a confinement and have little participation in the society. Furthermore, the harmful practices

have made them not have an access to control resources, be self-reliant and have a participation in education.
Female Gentile mutilation (FGM)
FGM is one of HTPs, which is violent against women’s natural rights and affect their health. According

to NCTPE (2003), Female Genital mutilation (FGM) is the removal of the external genital organ. In addition,

Woman’s Affairs Office in a book entitled, ‘Enabling communities abandon Harmful Traditional Practices’ (2004)

has defined it as the
partial or total removal of the external reproductive organs of normal girls or women. Commonly there are

three types of genital mutilations performed depending on cultural practices of each ethnic group. According to

Women’s Affairs office findings, the three types include: excision, cliteridectomy and infibulations
As it has been stated in NCTPE (2003), different scholars have indicated different places where the

origin of FGM is and have explained that genital mutilations were introduced to Ethiopia when the Nile valley

was evaded by militant pastoral nomads, and customized around 3100 BC. In addition, NCTPE (2003) has shown the

different assumptions of many scholars about who started the practice. They stated that HTP was practiced in

ancient Egypt and was widespread in Northern and central Sudan, Somalia and Djibouti.
However, in Ethiopia, the real origin of this practice is not known. But according to NCTPE (2003), it

could be before the introduction Christianity (4th century) to Ethiopia.
The seriousness of the practice in some African countries is indicated in percent as follows. Egypt (97%),

Ethiopia (90%), Eritrea (95%), Mali (94%), North Sudan (89%), Nigeria (60%), and Kenya (50%) (Old beyond

Imaginings, 2003). These are countries in which the three types of FGM have been practiced. Besides, as

Women’s Affairs Office findings indicate, the prevalence of the practice in Ethiopia has the following picture.

Afar over 90%, Amhara and Oromia about 80%, Addis Ababa and Somali regions above 70 %( Old Beyond Imaginings,

2003).
Here, the important issue is not only about the cutting of the organ but also the impact and the effect

that the women suffer during childbirth. According to NCTPE’s investigation, the end result of FGM is

irreversible damage to the health of the victims.
Marriage by Abduction (MBA)
Marriage is a system that secures the continuation of generations. For this reason, it must be

established through voluntarism. That is why a marriage and abduction are controversial ideas. Enabling

Communities abandon Harmful Traditional Practices (2004: 22) has defined MBA as: “an act of taking away a girl

or a woman for the purpose of forming a permanent union between the abductor and the victim”. Marriage by

Abduction is a serious problem in Oromia especially in the two study areas (Arsi and East - Showa). NCTPE

(2003) indicates the occurrence of marriage by abduction in Oromia is 80%.
According to Women Affairs Office survey (2004: 24), the main reasons for the practice of MBA are: 1. refusal

or anticipated refusal to agree on the marriage by the girl,
2. inability to cover marriage-related expenses, dowry and /or other economic burdens related to

conventional marriage processes,
3. status consideration such as social, economic and ethnic.
Marriage by abduction causes enmity among people because it is based on force and violence. Besides,

girls’ school drop rates increase. This is one of the problems that cause many of Ethiopian schools boy

dominated. NCTPE (2003: 157) has stated the problem as:
The kidnapping, even with the mediation of elders after the fact, may lead to conflict between

families…. It may degenerate into inter-community, inter clan or even inter-ethnic conflict sometimes leading

to loss of life…Most of the marriages established through abduction are reportedly loveless, unhappy and

unstable
Evaluation Design
This evaluation is summative because it focuses on the achievement of the desired goal. It also

reveals the achievement and overall programs effectiveness and revise them and design new strategies. In

addition to this, the program is implemented since the establishment of the organization. Therefore, summative

evaluation is preferable to encompass the wide range of the effectiveness of the entire goal.
Certainly, the evaluation has been based on the stated objectives and goals. Thus, the most often used

model is the objective attainment. However, in addition to this, the evaluation needs to examine a number of

other components of activities. Besides, I have preferred a qualitative method to measure specified outcomes.
Instrumentation
In order to collect information to be used in the evaluation, I visited the intervention area and

collected necessary data by interviewing different social groups and different governmental organizations.

Furthermore, I held focus group discussion to obtain more reliable information. The purpose of this visit was

to assess and understand their perception, to know to what extent the behavioral change occurred and how much

women have benefited. This study has revealed the overall picture of current status of women. Moreover, two

tools (interview and questionnaire) were also developed to collect data.
Sampling
I had selected 5 aanas and 25 kebeles from 34 aanas and 1155 kebeles (gandaas) for the purpose of

this evaluation program. I selected these areas because, those are the places where HTP is widely practiced and

the Bureau has most often intervened to change the situation.
Since the population of evaluation area is large, the sample was selected based on a cluster random

sampling method. Different questionnaires were designed for different social groups: zone and aanas cabinets

(57 in number), women’s affairs office (7 in number), religious and community leaders and elderly people (102

in number). All of the questionnaires originally were prepared in English and then were translated in to Afan

Oromo (Oromo language) in order to communicate with the selected social groups effectively.
The analysis of evaluation
Because the study is a program evaluation, decision-making and goal-based (objective attainment)

model has been used. From this study, it has been learnt that changing behaviours is very important in order to

achieve the designed goals and outcomes. It needs sustainable and consistent follow up with different

approaches and strategies depending on the current situation. The results of the interview and focus group

discussion were analyzed and reviewed in the light of the goal, objectives and the strategies of the

intervention program.
The immensity and diversity of harmful traditional practices, and unexplored source make it virtually

impossible to write a long and all- inclusive article with in this short period of time. Consequently, I have

been selective, in line with the purpose of the evaluation, in presenting the data to support my argument. I

had also made no attempt to bluff information from here and there, rather I had preferred to analyse and

illustrate the nature of abduction and female genital mutilation taking samples from the two zones. This study

can help the society to get awareness about the harmful practices. In other words it is possible to say that

women insights about political, economic cultural and psychological freedom and acquire transformations towards

fighting harmful traditions. Also it helps to have free millions of women, which are essential for development

and poverty reduction.
The results of evaluation
Previously, the situation of HTP was very critical, victimizes many people and made the society

fall under conflicts. The community, living in the area where the survey was conducted, gave the witness for

this problem. On the other hand, since awareness creation among the society is a domain issue of the problem,

the bureau sought to conduct it by well designed different strategies for different segment of the society and

achieved the desired goal and objectives entirely. The respondents from the community or beneficiary fully

support this idea with their substantial response.
According to their responses, the community especially village members play a decisive role to abolish

marriage by abduction, and female circumcision. The local associations like idir (group of people organized to

solving special problems) play a great role in enrolling the members and bring changes in the attitudes of the

community. They have made a decision to stigmatize and avoid people who participate in such practices from

idir, funeral ceremony and any social activities. Furthermore, the cultural leaders such as Abbaa Gadaa

(traditional Oromo leader) and Bokkuu (Cabinet of traditional state) have declared customary law in different

aanaas (districts) and in more than 46 gandaas (villages).
Since most of Oromo people give a great respect for the Gadaa leaders, the constitution or customary law

that they declare has got an acceptance. From my observation of the areas, I have learnt there has been an

attempt to abolish HTP. There are some changes in the practices of the community members. This is a great

victory for the society, who has been suffering a lot from HTP for a long period of time. One of the

interviewees the community members has indicated the relevance of the intervention program as follows:
The intervention has created a conducive milieu for our family as a whole and, particularly, for younger girls.

We are psychologically and physiologically liberated from such fear. At this time, without any fear,

especially, our girls can freely go to school, fetch water and bring fire wood, go to market and so on.
Based on the responses of the respondents, I really appreciate the way they seek to alleviate

the dominant harmful traditions; they make efforts to bring paradigm shifts in the way they behave. Again they

indicated that the intervention has made their entire family to feel free of HTP, particularly for school age

girls. Even though the findings have shown that there are changes, it is apparent from some of the responses

that still there are resistances to abide by the customary law of the community members.
Regarding female circumcision and abduction, the bureau has used religious leaders to teach the

community to bring attitudinal changes solve the problem. This method has been effective to some extent. This

change is not as expected because of strong resistances in fighting the harmful practice. Changing their

attitude and convincing those leaders was the first option in order to resolve the problem. The religious

leaders have been successful in enrolling the community members to cooperate with them through the religious

teachings.
Some of the informants of the community members have reported that female genital mutilation is

supported by the bible or the quran. These people do not seem they have a good knowledge of both religions

(Muslim and Christianity). On the contrary, the religious leaders have pointed out that Quran as well as bible

do not order their followers to act in such a harmful tradition. Followers of both religions, in the sampled

area, have been performing the girls’ circumcision for a longer period of time.
But now thanks to the interventions undertaken by Oromia Women affairs Bureau, religious leaders have

realized that it is a bad practice. As a result of this, they have started to give formal religious education

underscoring that the religions teach that women are to be respected by men.
The community leaders and elderly people heatedly participate in the intervention program to alleviate

the violence by influencing the community. They have played an important role, as a committee member, to give

awareness to the people in their respective villages. From the responses, it is clear that majority of the

respondents have said that female circumcision and marriage by abduction violates the rights of women. Though

this is what the people have reported, there is still a problem in implementation. Because it has been

practiced for a long period of time, it is not easy for the community to be totally free from it. The

achievement could be sustainable if all concerned people get involved in fighting the harmful practices.
According to the response of zones and aanaas women’s affairs offices, the strategies they were using

to eliminate the practices have been more or less effective. They have established a strong link with concerned

bodies such as zonal and aanaa cabinets, court office, police, religious leaders and influential peoples in the

fight against the harmful practices. In addition to this, they have also established HTP committee at zonal,

aanaa and kebele levels and in 512 schools. Furthermore, girls club has been established in schools. The other

strategy they have used is building social committee in which women members are compulsory.
After the establishment of committees, substantial orientation on the way that they are expected to

influence the society was given by the concerned people. Consequently, they have made a number of community

awareness trainings and have influenced them to avoid gender- based violence. As zonal and aanaa Women affairs

office respondents have pointed out, they have accomplished their goals and objectives through a campaign

called Qaanqee Haqaa (qaanqee is light where as Haqaa is equivalent to justice). This is a symbolic expression

to find a remedy for the harmful practices. This activity has been stretched from the top to the bottom manage

the change effectively. Through the campaign, Qaanqee Haqaa, conferences and workshops were organized at

different time in many villages.
One of the respondents has appreciated the campaign saying:
HTP has been a very serious problem. But after the Bureau and the Zone have established a campaign called

“Qaanqee Haqaa”, we have really seen changes; for instance, in Gadab Asasa district, girls circumcision was

ceremonial, that is all Women of the community used to come together to celebrate the occasion. But now this is

hardly practical. At this time, there is no such ceremony and circumcision is getting condemned. Previously the

actor (circumciser) was highly busy to circumcise girls. Now the circumcisers have got awareness on the problem

and are turning their faces to productive practices. Court members of the zone have taken the duties and the

responsibilities to teach those people who were directly or indirectly involved in the act.
The other strategy that the aanaa of Kofale Women affairs office (WAO) has formulated for the

abolishment of HTP is the enhancement of customary laws at kebele levels. The law includes awareness of Women

on equal sharing of resource, equality between men and Women, decision making, about violence against women,

property inheritance right and strongly emphasizes on marriage by abduction and female circumcision. For its

success, Abba Geda, and Boku have played a significant role in changing the customary laws into action.
As some officers form Kofale aanaa indicated that abduction has been minimized putting as:
On a market day girls not less than 10 in number were abducted. But now after the implementation of “Qaanqee

Haqaa”, different intervention was made by using those strategies at each level and significant change has been

observed unless and other wise the case of abdication and circumcision performed hidden there is no official

act.
The attention that the different committees have given to the problem has been powerful enough to

bring fundamental changes. The way they established those committees was based on different segments of the

society and peer-based grouping, which is a fundamental strategy. According to my opinion, this strategy is

very important to accelerate to fight bad practices and bring changes.
The other measure that was taken includes the attention that was given by police and courts. They have

taken part in the fight against the harmful practices by enacting family law and penal codes in order to

minimize the prevalence of the problem.
All of WAO officers said, “At the very beginning, the community in general refused to accept our goal

and objective as if it were done against their cultures and traditions.” The other resistance that they faced

was, in the name of voluntary marriage, some young males cheat female students to perform illegal marriage

which is equivalent to abduction with out the knowledge of families. Such kind of action leads the community to

resist the intervention, because they considered this illegal action as the result of family law and

declaration of women’s right.
According to their responses, after repeated efforts of awareness creation, now the situation is

mostly changed. The case of abduction is being reported to the police and WAO currently and fair decisions are

being passed. They have also expressed their views saying that the changes are due to the coordinated efforts

of the concerned bodies.
On the process of the illumination of violence against women especially harmful traditions, the higher

officials or decision making organs at zonal, aanaa and kebele levels take part to alleviate the harmful

practices. They design result- oriented plan and follow up its implementation. Specially, the decisive role

that the Arsi cabinet members and administrative body played was facilitating conducive environments to speed

up the campaign against HTP.
Their responses (zonal, aanaa and kebele cabinet) have shown that the activities they

accomplished and the available support they provided have played a decisive role to overcome the problem.

Frequently they discussed with women’s affairs Bureau and governmental sectors to mainstream those issues. Even

though they face the problem of reluctance from the part of the village committees and some community members,

circumcision is getting eliminated and abduction has been minimized. However, the new situation that is

marriage between youngsters by the name of mutual agreement with out their parents’ permission is still

practiced. This is another serious problem that reduces the number of girl school goers.
The kebele Cabinet respondent addressed that, even if they face a lot of problems, they have achieved

what they would like to do. In general, they appreciate the participation of the different social groups in

curbing the problem that has been a bottleneck for the development of the areas affected by the harmful

practices in particular and the country in general.
conclusion
The major findings of the study are concluded as follows.
From the findings of the study, it is apparent that the problems of women are multifaceted. That is why they

lack assertiveness and submit them selves to men. The problems they faces ranges from physical to

psychological. Violation of their rights to healthy body starts at the infant age with genital mutilation.

Because of the deep rooted gender based violence and other unjust practices against them, they have been

victims of numberless social, psychological, and cultural problems. Different social groups also have been

exercising harmful practices on them considering as accepted norms. As a result of this, women are victims of

highly harmful practices which even themselves consider as a naturally given way of life.
Today, the world is moving forward towards improving the situation of women which constitute

more than half of the world’s population. Efforts are being made at various levels to recognize and facilitate

the rights of women. The findings of this study have indicated that there is a lot to do in order to achieve

gender equality and make the world a convenient place for men and women for the benefit of both. The

consideration of women’s rights is not only the concern of women but also that of men to make development

efforts sustainable. The hard fact is no country that can develop without the full participation of its entire

population (male and female).
Women’s right is part of societal rights and also of citizenship. Marshall (1964) divided human rights

into three types, civil, political and social. Under civil right, in our country’s context, they mainly lack

justice and freedom to decide in all aspects of concerns. Everything is male dominated. In political aspects

also, the position of political decision-making has not been meant for them. They have been passive recipient

of whatever has been decided by men. Though decisions were against them, they used to be required to abide by

them with all subjugations. In social rights too, they did not have an opportunity to participate in

discussions contribute their share.
Gender equality is not valued in economic, social and political aspects because of the deep rooted

patriarchal system. Male supremacy determines the participation of women in all activities and makes them

accept their inferior position. Besides, this makes the society confirm that women are inferior and set a norm.

As a result of such situation, they accepted it as a natural phenomenon and considered them selves as a

subordinate of male.
Recommendation
From the findings of the study, recommendations have been drawn. It is believed that the points that

are made based on the study can have their contributions in solving social problems.
To achieve the ultimate goal that is bringing sustainable development, changing the situation of women

and improving their involvement in development is the alternative action. In addition to this, the removal of

all legal, cultural and socio-economical barriers that hinder the full participations of women is the

fundamental measure to be taken. The governmental leaders at all levels should be committed to transform them

selves in order to change others to avoid gender -based violence. Insuring whether women’s concern is

considered or mainstreamed in governmental and non governmental organizations is basically fundamental to over

come and alleviate HTP. Moreover, the political pressure or commitment that is more responsive for article 35

(declares women’ right) of the constitution should be implemented.
The primary focus of the government should be female education and wide- spreading of women’s literacy

among the community. To facilitate girls’ education, parents’ should be enrolled through discussions.
Currently, women’s participation in different management levels is, almost nil. But the contribution of

being a member of management committee and having a decision making position is helpful to facilitate gender

mainstreaming program and budget allocation for it. If it goes this way, all gender based violence could be

abolished. Hence, the bold actions to improve the circumstance of women are bringing women to decision making

poison, designing gender sensitive plans and allocating appropriate budget.
Numerous laws have been enacted to improve the right of women. However, the commitment to implement

these them is not satisfactory because of gender bias. This is a serious problem which might create social

conflicts. Therefore, the cause of lack of justice is an area which needs concentration. Women’s participation

in legislative issues can also help them to bring changes in their positions have their voice to alleviate

violence against women. Because women prefer to discuses their problem with women with out any reservation. In

addition, they should be empowered to establish their own associations at different levels in order to generate

ideas and find remedies for their own problems and become role models to free women in bondage. Religious

leaders should also persevere to teach their people so that they have a good knowledge of their religious

tenets and give respects for women. At the same time, this helps the society not to misrepresent the truth of

their beliefs.
References
National Committee on Traditional Practices of Ethiopia. (2003). Old Beyond Imagination: Ethiopia Harmful

Traditional Practices, pp. 27,33,69-74,157 and 308.
Women’s affairs office in collaboration with the national committee On Traditional Practices, Ethiopian Women

lawyers Association and UNICEF / Ethiopia {2004, April). Enabling Communities Abandon Harmful Traditional

Practices, pp. 8 and 22.
A World view of social Issues Series, Women’s Right, A Global View, pp ix and 33.
Oromia Women Affaire Bureau, (1998 E.C.) Annual Plan, p.3 and p.4
Oromia Women Affaire Bureau, (1998 E.C.), The strategic plan p.10
Appendix
A Questionnaire designed for assessing HTP program Evaluation

It is obvious that Oromia Women’s Affairs Bureau intervene to alleviate the situation of HTP such as marriage

by abduction, rape, early marriage, female genital mutilation and the like. The Bureau gives great emphasis to

alleviate the situation of HTP in Arsi and East Shoa administrative Zones by designing different strategies

since August 2004 in collaboration with UNICEF. Hence, the objective of these questionnaires is to evaluate the

extent how far HTP problems have been alleviated from these two Zones. The questionnaires focus on obtaining

information from individuals and the focus group discussion with the following groups as well.
A. communities or beneficiaries
B. religious and community leaders and elderly people
C. zonal and woreda cabinet committee
D. zonal and woreda Women’s affairs office.
I. Questionnaires
A) questionnaires designed for communities or beneficiaries
1. How is it the situation of marriage by abduction and female genital mutilation in your

kebele?___________________ ____________________________ ______ ___________ _______ _____________ __________ __________ ____________ ________________
2. Is it abolished or continued as it was? ______________________________________
Questions number 3 and 4 must be answered depending on answer for question number 2.
3. If it is abolished, how?__________________________________________________
4. If not why?___________________________________________________________
5. What role the community have played in the process of abolishing or continuing of marriage by abduction

and female genital mutilation?__________________________
6. What decision the community made to overcome the problem, how was it implemented and the result

obtained ______________________________________
7. Was there any resistance on the intervention made from the community members?

B) questionnaires designed for
a. Religious leaders
b. Community leaders and elderly people
a) For Religious leaders
1) What is the order of your religion (Muslim, Orthodox, Protestant and others?) Concerning marriage by

abduction and female genital mutilation? ________________
_____________ _________________ ________________ ______________________
2) What role did and do the religious leaders (Muslim, Orthodox, Protestant and others) have to play in

the process of abolishing marriage by abduction and female genital

mutilation?____________________________________________________________
3) Have you observed any change from your followers? __________________________
______________________________________ ______________________________
b) For community leaders and elderly people
1) Have you participated in the process of abolishing marriage by abduction and female genital mutilation?

___________________ ______________ __________________
______________________ _________________ ____________________________
2) Have you observed any change? _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
3) What kind of role do you think that the community leaders and elderly people should play in abolishing the

marriage by abduction and female genital mutilation?__________________
II. Focus group discussion designed for zonal and woreda cabinet
1) How was your participation in the process of abolishing marriage by abduction and female genital

mutilation? _______________________________________________
2) How you discharged your duties and responsibilities in abolishing marriage by abduction and female

genital mutilation? ___________________________________
3) What was the challenge you faced in the process? ___________________________
____________________________________________________________________
4) Do you think it is abolished? ____________________________________________
5) How victimised women got justice?________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
6) Do you have any other opinion, suggestion and recommendation?_______________
___________________________________________________________________
III. An interview designed
A) for zonal and woreda Women’s affairs office
1) What strategies have you applied in the process of eliminating marriage by abduction and female genital

mutilation? ____________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
2) Was there any challenge you faced in the process? ____________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
3) What solutions did you take for the challenges you confronted? __________________
_____________________________________________________________________
4) What are the changes /out comes observed? _________________________________
5) How are victimised women getting justice?__________________________________
6) What do you suggest or recommend for the future intervention? ______________
____________________________________________________________________
B) For individuals
This question will be addressed through direct input from the beneficiary/ community member/

interviews.
1. . Do you believe that HTP such as marriage by abduction and FGM discouraged female participation in

different situation?
2. Does the intervention made abolish the situation?
3. Are you happy for its abolishment or decrement?
4. What is your opinion concerning the interventions made?
5. How females get justice and how is the law and penal code implemented?
6. What is your recommendation and suggestions to eliminate HTP and to enhance female participation in

development?
Source: Oromia Women’s Affairs Bureau

Please send us your comment on this article at: siidiyyaa@yhaoo.com

Date:  6/1/2005
Source:  Oromia Website
Title:  The Relation between Oromia National Regional State and the State of Khartoum: Mutual Benefits

The relation between Oromia National Regional State and the state of Khartoum has established when H.E. Obbo Juneydi Saddo, Head of Oromia National Regional State, paid the official work visit to the Republic of the Sudan in August 2004. During this visit, the two states signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate in severalareas, among others, in the fields of health, education/capacity building, culture and economic aspects as well as in exchanging latest technological and scientific knowledge and encouraging investment projects of mutual interest. Following the previous work visit of H.E. Obbo Juneydi Saddo in August 2004, the Khartoum Statedelegation led y H.E. Dr. Abdulhalim Isma’il Al Muttafi paid a work visit to Oromia National Regional State in November of the same year. The visit, being successful, has moved the sisterly relationship one important step forward. It has ended up with the bilateral cooperation agreement of mutual benefit. According to this bilateralcooperation agreement, he two sisterly states have agreed to promote and render assistance to promote investment in one another’s state, encourage and facilitate investment projects of mutual interest and encourage private sectors to open market in one another’s state. During this bilateral agreement, the Oromia NationalRegional State has specifically agreed to share experiences to the researchers of Khartoum State in areas of agricultural research especially in cereal and livestock development, offer ten trainees in athletics for three consecutive years in which the Ethiopians are known world widely and to facilitate the participation of the sportteamof Khartoum State on the national eventstaking place in Oromia National Regional State. The state of Khartoum on its part has agreed mainly to offer scholarships in several areas like journalism, information and communication and also committed to offer scholarship to 50 general medical practitioners and up to 100 clinical nursesover the next three years. The Khartoum Stateis also agreed to organize volunteer health professionals to render volunteer medical services to Oromia National Regional State.The primary objective of the relationship between the two states has been to share experiences in areas of health services delivery, health care financing,education/capacity building, investment, agriculturalresearch, marketing and input supply. Based on this objective, the delegation of Oromia National Regional State led by H.E. Dr. Mohammad Hassan, Head Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development of Oromia National Regional State, paid a work visit to Khartoum State in March2005. The purpose of this visit was to further onsolidate the cooperation agreements so far signed between the two states and to arrange the practical implementation plan of those agreements on the basis of mutual consent. It was also meant to share the experiences of Khartoum State in various sectors. Accordingly, the Oromiadelegation had visited several institutions during its stayn the Khartoum State, among others, the institutions of health, agricultural institutions, higher education institutions and financial institutions. It had also visited the activities of private sectors in the state. All in all, the visiting team gained useful experiences in this workvisit.During this latest visit of Oromia’s delegation, the SudanFederal Minister of Health, H.E. Dr. Ahmed Bilal, expressed the readiness of the Sudan Government to offer some scholarships in areas of medical specialization. He also pointed out the possibility of establishing some sort of cooperation linkage between the hospitals of thetwo countries to facilitate the exchange of experiences andmedical professionals. It was also noted during this occasion that the Sudan Heart Center agreed to send one or two full medical teams to Oromia for the treatment of heart patients in the region. It is also agreed to undertake specialization training to medical staffs from Oromiaforlater establishment of the Heart Center in OromiaRegional State. The private higher education institutions were among several institutions that the Oromia delegation visited in the Khartoum State. Some of these private education institutions expressed their willingness during the visit to offer scholarships for Oromia NationalRegional State in various field of studies and at ndergraduate levels. One of these institutions is Ahfad University, which exclusively offers education for female students. The president and owner of this university, Professor Gassim Badri, expressed his willingness to offer scholarship for 15 talented female students of OromiaNational Regional State in the fields of Medicine, Pharmacy,Rural Development and pre-school Education and psychology. The offer is effective as of September 2005 to2008. The chancellor of the Academy of Medical Sciences and Technology, Professor Mamoun Homeidea, also showed his willingness to offer scholarships for twentyundergraduate students of Oromia regional State in thefields of Medicine, Nursing, Anesthesia and Business Administration when the delegation visited the Academy. These and other scholarships offered by the State of Khartoum and the Federal Government of Sudan will certainly contribute a lot to the capacity building activitiesbeing undertaken by the Oromia State.Even though the crucialefforts will be needed to further consolidate the relation between the two states, the bilateral cooperation signed so far between them and the consecutive work visits of the two delegations played a leading role in enhancing the relation between the two states to ahigher level. The useful Experiences were also achieved on bothsides during the work visits.Finally, if the relation between the two states is further strengthened and the bilateral agreements singed between them so far are implemented, there is no doubt that the two sisterly states will be mutually benefited from the relationship.