Backward Traditions and Gender-Based Violence: Time to Break the Silence
Culture is a powerful force. It shapes identity, strengthens communities, and connects generations. Many traditions promote unity, respect, and shared values. However, when certain practices harm women and girls, deny them their rights, or justify violence, they must be confronted and transformed. What are often described as “backward traditions” are, in reality, deeply rooted forms of Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
Understanding the Link Between Tradition and Violence
According to UN Women, Gender-Based Violence refers to harmful acts directed at individuals based on their gender. It includes physical, sexual, psychological, and economic abuse. GBV is rooted in unequal power relations and harmful gender norms that place women and girls in subordinate positions.
When traditions reinforce ideas that women must be controlled, silenced, or valued only for marriage and reproduction, those traditions become tools of violence.
Female Genital Mutilation: A Harmful Practice Disguised as Culture
World Health Organization defines Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) as procedures that intentionally alter or injure female genital organs for non-medical reasons. Often justified as a rite of passage, a requirement for marriage, or a way to preserve purity, FGM is a clear violation of girls’ bodily autonomy.
FGM has no health benefits. Instead, it causes severe pain, infections, childbirth complications, and long-term psychological trauma. Most importantly, it is performed because of beliefs about controlling female sexuality and maintaining social acceptance. This makes FGM not only a harmful traditional practice but also a clear form of GBV.
Child Marriage and Bride Abduction: Denying Girls Their Future
Child marriage and bride abduction are other practices closely linked to GBV. These practices end girls’ education, expose them to early pregnancy, and increase their risk of domestic and sexual violence. Girls forced into marriage are often denied the opportunity to make decisions about their own lives.
Such practices are rooted in the belief that girls are economic burdens or assets for exchange, rather than individuals with rights, dreams, and potential. This mindset reinforces inequality and perpetuates cycles of poverty and violence.
Domestic Violence Hidden Behind Cultural Norms
In many communities, domestic violence is justified through sayings that normalize male authority and female obedience. Violence within the home is often dismissed as a “private matter.” These beliefs silence survivors and protect perpetrators.
UNICEF highlights that harmful gender norms allow violence to continue across generations. When boys grow up seeing violence accepted, they may repeat it. When girls grow up seeing silence rewarded, they may accept abuse as normal.
Why Harmful Traditions Persist
These practices continue because of social pressure, fear of rejection, economic dependency, and lack of awareness. Families may believe they are protecting their daughters or preserving their culture. But culture is not static. It evolves. Communities around the world have shown that traditions can be reshaped without losing identity.
Protecting women and girls does not destroy culture; it strengthens it.
The Way Forward
Ending backward traditions linked to GBV requires collective action. Community dialogue is essential. Religious leaders, elders, youth, women, and men must work together to challenge harmful norms. Education plays a critical role in empowering girls and changing mindsets. Strong laws must be enforced, and survivors must have access to safe shelters, counseling, and economic opportunities.
Engaging men and boys is equally important. Gender equality benefits entire communities, not just women.
A Call for Transformation
Harmful traditions that cause pain, discrimination, and fear are not culture they are violence. True cultural pride lies in protecting dignity, promoting justice, and ensuring equality.
Breaking the cycle of Gender-Based Violence means creating societies where girls grow up free from fear, women live with dignity, and families are built on respect rather than control. Transforming harmful traditions is not a rejection of culture; it is a step toward a more just and humane future for all.
Across Africa, culture is a source of pride and resilience.Yet millions of girls remain at risk of FGM and child marriage. According to UNFPA and UNICEF, harmful practices continue in several regions despite progress.
Change is happening. Communities are publicly abandoning FGM. Religious leaders are speaking against child marriage. Youth movements are challenging harmful norms.
In Ethiopia, the Constitution guarantees equality between women and men. The Criminal Code criminalizes FGM, early marriage, and abduction. National strategies and civil society efforts have reduced harmful practices in some areas.
But challenges remain. In some communities, FGM is still linked to marriage. Child marriage still interrupts girls’ education. Domestic violence is often underreported.
The problem is not culture itself.It is harmful interpretations of culture that prioritize control over dignity.Transformation in Ethiopia and across Africa means reclaiming positive cultural values.
Respect. Protection. Justice. Community responsibility.
It means enforcing laws. Educating girls. Supporting survivors. Engaging men and religious leaders.
It means saying clearly: violence is not culture.
Harmful traditions that cause pain, discrimination, and fear are not culture; they are violence. True cultural pride lies in protecting dignity, promoting justice, and ensuring equality.
Breaking the cycle of Gender-Based Violence means creating societies where girls grow up free from fear, women live with dignity, and families are built on respect rather than control. Transforming harmful traditions is not a rejection of culture; it is a step toward a more just and humane future for all.
Across Africa, culture is a source of pride and resilience. Yet millions of girls remain at risk of FGM and child marriage. According to UNFPA and UNICEF, harmful practices continue in several regions despite progress.
Change is happening. Communities are publicly abandoning FGM. Religious leaders are speaking against child marriage. Youth movements are challenging harmful norms.
In Ethiopia, the Constitution guarantees equality between women and men. The Criminal Code criminalizes FGM, early marriage, and abduction. National strategies and civil society efforts have reduced harmful practices in some areas.
But challenges remain. In some communities, FGM is still linked to marriage. Child marriage still interrupts girls’ education. Domestic violence is often underreported.
The problem is not culture itself. It is harmful interpretations of culture that prioritize control over dignity. Transformation in Ethiopia and across Africa means reclaiming positive cultural values: respect, protection, justice, and community responsibility.
It means enforcing laws. Educating girls. Supporting survivors. Engaging men and religious leaders.
It means saying clearly: violence is not culture.
A Future Rooted in Dignity
A transformed society is one where:
A girl’s worth is not defined by marriage.
A woman’s body is not controlled by tradition.
A home is a place of safety, not fear.
Culture promotes equality, not discrimination.
Ending GBV and harmful traditional practices is not rejecting heritage.
It is strengthening it.
