September 19th marks the first ever marathon in support of accelerating the end of FGM. I have the privilege of going along to report on this historic event with the UNFPA.
So this week I will write a series of articles detailing a little about FGM, looking the ‘what?’, ‘the who & why’ and ‘the so what’ and ‘what next?’.
This blog is entry four in the series on FGM looking at the scale of the problem. If you missed the previous three entries check out here & here & here. This is the last in the mini series before we start coverage of the marathon event in Kapchorwa so I hope you are a little more informed about FGM, certainly more horrified and ready to ⋕EndFGM!
So what can we do to ⋕EndFGM?
In reality, we can’t stop it. It is not our practice to stop. What we can do is support the communities to find alternative rite of passage, educate them on the dangers of FGM and encourage them to publicly declare the ⋕EndFGM.
Remember the story I mentioned in blog two about Kameron. It was through objective education not judgement and force, his mind was changed and he became an active member of the ⋕EndFGM campaign. The importance of these two factors 1. education and 2. a non judgmental, respectful approach to their culture is key to any progress we want to make in the campaign to ⋕EndFGM.
Well this is where UNFPA and various other organisations, local communities, politicians and you, yes you, come in.
There are three approaches, all needed to work simultaneously for it be stopped (in my opinion)
1. Awareness & Education
Education not FGM -better to educate not cut a girl
Education; this perhaps is the most important tool we have at our hands to make lasting change in peoples attitudes towards FGM.
FGM, like most harmful practice survives in secrecy, myths and uncertainties! People believe it is beneficial or essential and they don’t hear of an alternative point of view. Unless we inform them of other options.
UNFPA is heavily involved in supporting education and awareness programs and they work with many partner organisations such as the Church of Uganda who organised this marathon to reach communities that need to hear this message. Check out these links 1 & 2 to see some stories from the field.
However, like must things in life, it is a learning process. Traditionally we have designed programs to inform the woman, without considering the patriarchal structure of these communities. Now we know we must include men in all interventions. Women are cut but for the men so men must be ones who say no to FGM.
A lot of men are ignorant to the true extent of the trauma of FGM and how begins a long line of right violations and health complications for the FGM survivor. One of NAFGEM’s successful campaign was educate the men who would be marrying these girls and most men then took a vow not to marry a girl who has been mutilated. This was a huge step forward, and including men in education and awareness is gaining momentum and producing successful outcomes.
2. Law enforcement and protection
Uganda made FGM illegal in 2009 which was a huge step forward however enforcing the law has met major obstacles. Since the practice is performed often in secret, in communities that respect the duty to FGM over the law, to report perpetrator would be seen as “betraying” their communities and traditions. They belief FGM is vital to their community and this is why education is so important so they are given the tools and information to say no to FGM.
While the law, in it’s isolation, has not been effective, it has been useful as a tool for organisation campaigning to ⋕EndFGM as it gives a legal framework to work in.
3. Support and counselling
This is both to help the already mutilated woman, to treat the medical side effects and to counsel communities that want to say no to FGM. It is so important not to just convince communities it is wrong and leave. We need to give them the tools they need to go against their tribe and bigger culture pressure.
Support can be in the form of finding alternative income for cutters such as advocates for the ⋕EndFGM campaign, offering incentives to cutters who hand over their cutting tool and providing materials and tools to support events such as the marathon against FGM. This is another area UNFPA is involved in. The Church of Uganda are the organisers of this event, however UNFPA is providing a lot of the promotional material, press coverage and helping out where needed.
But no one intervention or piece of information will change a century old practice and deeply held believes. It is important to utilise a multi platform, collaborative approach using local and national bodies to target both grassroot and policy level tools. Thankfully I can say these things are all being done.
I am heading of today to start the journey to Kapchorwa and will be there for the weekend. So please check back next week for my final blog on the ⋕EndFGM marathon.
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