Advocating for Cultural Safety: Protecting Girls from Harmful Traditions

Let’s Talk Cultural Safety!

Have you ever paused to think about what cultural safety truly means?

Cultural safety goes beyond tradition. It’s about ensuring freedom from harm, discrimination, and inequality that may stem from cultural practices, beliefs, or traditions. Cultural safety creates an environment where everyone, regardless of gender or background, feels valued, respected, and protected from harm.

For many girls, especially those raised in remote areas like mine, questioning cultural practices is not an option. We are often expected to follow customs simply because;

It has always been this way.

But is tradition enough reason to continue practices that harm and disadvantage girls and women?

Let’s examine cultural practices like female genital mutilation (FGM) and female genital elongation of the labia. These rituals, deeply rooted in African cultural history, have been carried out without the full consent of many girls and women. Beyond their cultural significance, these practices often cause physical and emotional trauma, reflecting deeper issues of inequality and discrimination.

The bigger question is: How many cultural practices still exist today that girls and women are forced to undergo without truly giving their consent?

Cultural safety remains a pressing concern, especially for girls in rural and traditional communities, where harmful practices continue to thrive. Protecting girls and women from such risks requires bold conversations and collective action to challenge outdated customs and prioritise the well-being and dignity of all.

Let’s advocate for a future where cultural practices uplift, rather than harm, the most vulnerable members of our society. It’s time to promote cultural safety for all.

Written by Thokozile Sumili Habwacha

Thokozile Sumili Habwacha, a 21-year-old from Chikuni Monze, Zambia, strongly advocates for girls' education and community empowerment. As a member of the Youth Advisory Board and a certified climate change activist with Green Cosmos Zambia, she works on raising awareness and finding solutions for climate challenges. Additionally, Thokozile founded the club Girl Up Beyond Our Borders, where she focuses on providing mentorship and safety for girls in remote areas.