Togo

Type practised

The main forms of female genital cutting (FGC) in Togo are Types I and II.

Age

The available data indicates that cutting is most common in girls under five and girls aged 10-14.

Source: 28 Too Many

Agent

Traditional practitioners.

Source: UNFPA-UNICEF

Legal status

Illegal since 1998.

National progress

• 1998 – Law specifically prohibiting FGC
• 2015 – Penal Code of Togo also criminalises FGC

While there is governmental support for raising awareness of the harms of the practice, there is no national strategy or action plan for combatting FGC in Togo.

Enforcement

Law enforcement is weak, according to a 2016 human rights report by the US Department of State*. It concluded this was because most cases occurred in rural areas where awareness of the law was limited or because traditional customs often took precedence over the legal system among some ethnic groups.

* Togo 2016 Human Rights Report, US Department of State, 2016

Human Development Index ranking

165 in 2018 index, based on 2017 data.

Infant mortality rate

52 deaths per 1,000 live births (2015).

Source: 28 Too Many

Maternal mortality rate

368 deaths per 100,000 live births (2015).

Source: 28 Too Many

Trends in FGC prevalence

There is a trend towards lower prevalence of FGC in Togo. The prevalence rate among women aged 45-49 is 10.2%, while for 15-19 year-olds it is 1.8%.  

Source: PBR, based on DHS 2013-2014

Prevalence breakdown

By region

Looking at women aged 15-49, the regions of Togo with highest FGC prevalence rates are Centrale (17.4%), Savanes (10.1%) and Kara (8.2%). The lowest prevalence is found in the Maritime region in the south (0.4%).

Source: UNICEF, based on DHS 2013-2014, PBR, based on DHS 2013-2014

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