Abandonment of female genital mutilation: Examples from West- and East-Africa. What works and what does not work? Challenges in sharing and transferring knowledge
Hovedinnhold
According to WHO (2013), Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) includes procedures that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. About 140 million girls and women are currently living with the consequences of FGM. In Africa it is estimated that 101 million girls 10 years old and above have undergone FGM.
FGM continues to affect at least three million girls annually in Africa, and the procedure carries many immediate and long-term health risks.
Recently - OHCHR, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNECA, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNIFEM, and WHO made an interagency statement and a publication: Eliminating female genital mutilation.
FGM includes varying and changing practices and may even be performed on babies. The rationalities for keeping up the practice also vary and change across geographical areas and over time, in spite of laws against FGM in a many African countries. In several areas the practice is a deeply rooted social norm enforced by community expectations around marriageability. Through the practice the family ensures that the girl will be a desirable marriage prospect. Compared to the health risks, the social consequences that girls, who have not undergone FGM, face may be severe. She may be ostracized by her community. In areas where FGM is abandoned girls who have already undergone FGM may also be ostracized.
Is abandonment of FGM possible? What works and what does not work?
14:30 - 15:00
Introduction to TOSTAN's work on abandonment of Female Genital Cutting
by Molly Melching, the Founder and Executive Director of TOSTAN, Senegal.
TOSTAN has received several prizes for their community work, including their work on abandonment of female genital cutting, through a human rights approach. TOSTAN has activities in several African countries. In 2013, Molly Melching was honoured with a ‘Women of Impact' award at the 4th Annual Women in the World Summit.
15:00-15:30
Working to stop female genital mutilation in Tanzania: "Before there was no lawalawa." Examples from Singida Region.
by Chiku Ali, a Tanzanian FGM activist and a Senior Consultant at RVTS, Bergen, Norway and
Agnete Strøm, International Coordinator, Women's Front of Norway, Bergen, Norway.
15:30-16:00
Discussion and questions. We ask the presenters to discuss and reflect on what works and what does not work?
Chair: Gro Th. Lie, Academic Head of UiB Global / Professor of Health Promotion. Gro Th. Lie has also done research with grassroots groups working to eliminate FGM.
All welcome!