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Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Cutting   
Feb. 6, 2007—Khira is a “positive deviant” in the fight against female genital cutting (FGC). Despite being one of the estimated 97 percent of Egyptian women who have been subjected to the practice, Khira [pictured right] vowed she would never inflict this pain on her own daughters. Working with CEDPA in Egypt, she spoke out and convinced others not to subject their daughters to FGC. The world needs more “positive deviants” like Khira. The United Nations estimates that each year three million girls undergo female genital cutting, mostly in Africa and the Middle East, suffering life-long effects on their health and well-being. FGC can cause psychological trauma, gynecological problems, difficulties during childbirth and even death for girls who are subjected to the procedure. Recognizing that FGC is a human rights violation, many countries, including Egypt, have established laws to outlaw the practice. But FGC continues because the laws are difficult to enforce and the beliefs that surround the practice are firmly rooted. Families often continue the practice because of community expectations that FGC ensures virginity and prevents promiscuity. Many do not share these beliefs, but have their daughters circumcised to keep her marriage opportunities open. Mobilizing communities against FGC is no small task. There are programs in place that are working towards this goal, but more support is needed.
The symposium offers an opportunity to highlight effective programs, identify leaders in the movement and discuss challenges for the next ten years. CEDPA’s senior technical advisor Leah Freij will present on CEDPA’s work on FGC abandonment at the symposium. The program, implemented in Egypt, worked with families, girls, boys and entire communities to combat the practice. The New Horizons education program worked with more than 62,000 girls, ages nine to twenty, to demystify reproductive health, openly discuss FGC, provide basic life skills and increase self confidence. Complementing New Horizons was New Visions, an education program for boys ages 12-20 which covered many of the same topics as the girls’ program. New Visions reached more than 13,000 boys throughout the same communities. CEDPA’s Female Genital Mutilation Abandonment Program was a community outreach program that mobilized those against FGC to conduct outreach activities within their communities. It included 40 communities, reaching more than 15,500 people through 379 activities including seminars and small group sessions.
Follow-up visits to families who had received home visits under CEDPA’s program showed that the majority did not intend to circumcise their daughters. Khira was part of CEDPA’s program. The project gave her the skills and confidence to persuade her mother and father not to subject her younger sisters to FGC. Khira also organized a support group for 15 young women who underwent FGC to openly discuss their experiences. The members of Khira’s group pledged to persuade their parents not to circumcise their younger sisters. One by one, they too became “positive deviants.” And the movement grows. Learn more about the Zero Tolerance Day for Female Genital Cutting or CEDPA’s programs in Egypt. |
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