Grassroots Organizations Must Defend Children's Rights

Legal guarantees have not been enough to bring down the prevalence of female genital mutilation - rather it has been increasing and Guinea and other African countries, writes Dr. Mammadou Diallo, who has had a three-decade career in peacebuilding and public health and is currently deputy special representative of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau. He believes equal treatment for girls and respecting their rights is a component of building and preserving peace in communities and society.