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By: Zekarias Menberu, Ethiopian youth Council for Higher Opportunities (ECHO), TaYA
Various nations and nationalities make Ethiopia a mosaic of various cultural varieties. This cultural asset differentiates countries from each other. Despite its power to serve as an icon for the country, all the traditional practices can not be said positive as some of such cultures can be of harmful effect.
According to the reports by the “Ethiopia Goji Limadawi Dirgitoch Aswogaji Mahber” issued last year there are some 160 harmful traditional practices (HTPs) that prevail in different parts of the country. Among such practices are female genital cutting, early marriage, abduction, tattooing, lip mutilation and the like.
Some social scientists argue against the effort of defining some traditional practices as harmful insisting that it is the way people express their cultural assets. However, it should be noted that most of the societies that are practicing this traditions are not developed in education. Also these societies are being observed falling prone to various communicable diseases including HIV/AIDS as result of the HTPs.
Though the society seems to live in harmony with the harmful practices, it is unquestionable that they would prefer to stop the practice if they realize their harm. It is known that some of the traditional practices are contributing in attracting tourists in some parts of the country; the fight against harmful aspect of these traditions should not be ignored.
Therefore, the government, non governmental organizations, and other stakeholders have the responsibility of fighting HTPs by educating the people to avoid harmful aspect their traditions and maintain the positive aspects.
Comments
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I think this is a very insightful post. I posted something about a Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) and thinking about how this traditional practice effects women's health.
# Posted By 
vanessaaishacoleman
| 5/27/09 09:23 PM
| Reply
vanessaaishacoleman
| 5/27/09 09:23 PM
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