HARMFUL TRADITIONAL PRACTICES AFFECTING WOMEN & GIRLS

• All violations of women’s and girls’ rights may be
described as harmful practices, but there are particular
forms of violence against women and girls which are
defended on the basis of tradition, culture, religion or
superstition by some community members.1
These are
often known as ‘harmful traditional practices.’
• Harmful traditional practices are largely carried out
without the consent of the girl/woman involved and
thus constitute a violation of human rights as set out
in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. As with
all forms of violence against women and girls, harmful
traditional practices are caused by gender inequality
including unequal power relations between women
and men, rigid gender roles, norms and hierarchies, and
ascribing women lower status in society.
• Harmful practices are referred to in the Convention on
the Rights of the Child (Article 24(3)), CEDAW (Articles
2, 5 and 16) and regional instruments.

ActionAid UK – Gender & Development Network – Womankind
International Planned Parenthood Federation – Orchid Project