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| Ethiopia's Bogaletch Gebre wins King Baudouin Prize | Ethiopia's Bogaletch Gebre wins King Baudouin Prize |
| (30 days later) | |
| Ethiopian activist Bogaletch Gebre has won an international prize for her campaign to eradicate female genital mutilation (FGM). | Ethiopian activist Bogaletch Gebre has won an international prize for her campaign to eradicate female genital mutilation (FGM). |
| She was awarded the King Baudouin Prize in Belgium for confronting "culturally entrenched taboo subjects", the selection committee said. | She was awarded the King Baudouin Prize in Belgium for confronting "culturally entrenched taboo subjects", the selection committee said. |
| Ms Bogaletch helped reduce cases of FGM from 100% of newborn girls to less than 3% in parts of Ethiopia, it said. | Ms Bogaletch helped reduce cases of FGM from 100% of newborn girls to less than 3% in parts of Ethiopia, it said. |
| FGM is practised mainly in communities in Africa and the Middle East. | FGM is practised mainly in communities in Africa and the Middle East. |
| Also known as female circumcision, it is seen as a traditional rite of passage and is used culturally to ensure virginity and to make a woman marriageable. | Also known as female circumcision, it is seen as a traditional rite of passage and is used culturally to ensure virginity and to make a woman marriageable. |
| It typically involves removing the clitoris, and can lead to bleeding, infections and childbirth problems. | It typically involves removing the clitoris, and can lead to bleeding, infections and childbirth problems. |
| 'Endemic' | 'Endemic' |
| Ms Bogaletch told BBC Focus on Africa that her message to community elders who promoted FGM was: "Daddy, you lived your time. This is our period, our children's period. We don't want to kill our children. I hope you are wise enough to accept that." | Ms Bogaletch told BBC Focus on Africa that her message to community elders who promoted FGM was: "Daddy, you lived your time. This is our period, our children's period. We don't want to kill our children. I hope you are wise enough to accept that." |
| The Belgium-based King Baudouin Foundation awarded Ms Gebre the 150,000 euros ($200,000; £125,000) prize for her "innovative" campaign to eradicate FGM. | |
| The Kembatti Mentti Gezzimma (KMG) group, which she founded, focused on arranging "community conversations" in areas of Ethiopia where illiteracy levels were high and FGM "endemic", the Foundation said in a statement. | The Kembatti Mentti Gezzimma (KMG) group, which she founded, focused on arranging "community conversations" in areas of Ethiopia where illiteracy levels were high and FGM "endemic", the Foundation said in a statement. |
| "By implementing this approach across communities in Ethiopia, Boge and KMG lowered the incidence of FGM in 10 years from 100% to less than 3% of newborn girls in the areas where they work," it added. | "By implementing this approach across communities in Ethiopia, Boge and KMG lowered the incidence of FGM in 10 years from 100% to less than 3% of newborn girls in the areas where they work," it added. |
| Ms Bogaletch told BBC Focus on Africa that supporters of FGM believed in the "subjugation" of women. | Ms Bogaletch told BBC Focus on Africa that supporters of FGM believed in the "subjugation" of women. |
| "It has nothing to do with culture... We don't even know where it comes from," she said. | "It has nothing to do with culture... We don't even know where it comes from," she said. |
| "How can something which is killing women, harming women, and our children too, be accepted as culture?" | "How can something which is killing women, harming women, and our children too, be accepted as culture?" |
| In February, the UN said data showed that fewer girls in Africa and the Middle East are being subjected to FGM and it is possible to end the practice. | In February, the UN said data showed that fewer girls in Africa and the Middle East are being subjected to FGM and it is possible to end the practice. |
| FGM was particularly in decline amongst the young in Kenya, it added. | FGM was particularly in decline amongst the young in Kenya, it added. |
| In December, the UN General Assembly unanimously approved a non-binding resolution calling for all member states to ban the practice. | In December, the UN General Assembly unanimously approved a non-binding resolution calling for all member states to ban the practice. |