WUNRN
FGM – REPORT FIGURES ARE QUANTITATIVE, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE QUALITY OF SUSTAINABLE CHANGE IN BEHAVIORS & MINDSETS AGAINST FGM?
Fighting FGM - Progress
Hidden Behind Numbers in Reports
By
Fomba Fatimata Niambali, a member of Mali's Parliament
More than 125
million girls and women are living with the consequences of FGM.
3 February 2015:
Over the past 10 years, many disasters have occurred in West Africa. For most,
responses took place and issues were resolved.
However, a big
disaster is still happening and with unimaginable consequences among a
vulnerable population: our daughters.
Female Genital
Mutilation (FGM) is a common practice in many countries in West Africa,
including mine. It can have devastating consequences on victims, including
life-long psychological and physical trauma.
Numbers are still
high, despite the heartbreaking stories shared by girls and women who have
undergone FGM.
A few weeks ago, I
read an article about a girl who suffered FGM.
“I cannot explain
the feeling of terror that runs through the mind of an excised girl when
thinking of the upcoming wedding. On the day of their wedding, brides undergo
another painful ‘surgery’ to reverse the infibulation to allow consummation of
marriage,” she said.
“In most cases,
intervention is done by a traditional practitioner without any anaesthesia or
little care for hygiene. Sometimes it is performed on the floor in the
bathroom. It is only after completing this procedure that an excised girl is
considered ‘free’. She usually has her first sexual experience the same night.”
How far have we
gone?
In 2014, the
prevalence of FGM in Mali was 85% for women aged 15 to 49 and 84% of girls from
0 to 14 . When you read other research reports, for instance, in Guinea-Bissau,
94.5% of girls and women have undergone FGM in the region of Gabu and 92.8% in
Bafata region. In Sierra Leone the rate is of 88.6%.
As Chair of the
Parliamentary Network Against Violence Against Women and Girls, I wonder: “How
far have we gone?"
For me, figures
should be disaggregated to allow a better reading of the current situation. It
would be critical to see which girls and generations are the most affected.
If in a given
figure less than a quarter represents girls aged between 5-12, it would
probably mean that efforts are ongoing and huge change has been made over the
last 15 years. These efforts must continue until we approach zero cases.
Yet, much of this
is about overcoming traditional beliefs. It might seem a big challenge, but it
is possible.
Projects are often
implemented and they run from 3 to 5 years, which does not give much time to
see results. Figures are quantitative, so what about the quality, the change of
minds?
Reaching across
generations
Only the transfer
of awareness from one generation to another will allow the practice to be
questioned and eventually stopped.
Many issues have
been raised such as health, but communities have turned to more hygienic
methods.
People try to
avoid social stigma, and that is where suggestions must be made.
A mother will
prefer to have her daughter undergo FGM in a safe, sterile environment so she
will find a husband, to ensure she is successful in business and to stop her
from being a laughingstock in the community.
The challenge here
is to understand and take into account the way communities who practice FGM
works, thinks and interacts. A methodology that ensures the whole community is
responsive to our messages is the winning one.
Again, laws are
not enough, as it is more to do with communities themselves.
A new approach
The approach used
by our partners for development, such as child rights organisation Plan
International, seems to be working.
The ‘child to
child’ and ‘child to parent’ approach allows girls to raise awareness and
promote their rights among themselves and with their parents, using methods
that are creative and do not offend people’s sensitivities, such as acting,
drawing, poetry, songs.
It has helped many
girls express themselves in public and share their experiences without fear and
embarrassment.
It is important
that communities are involved from the start to avoid creating new stigmatised
groups among them, while children, women, traditional practitioners,
traditional and religious leaders, health workers, authorities, teachers, local
organisations, non-governmental organisations and policy makers should take
part in the fight against FGM.
Patience and real
commitment is essential if we are to significantly reduce FGM cases. The road
is still long, but there must be a willingness to change and it must begin now.
Helping our girls to escape FGM must be a priority.
Therefore, I call
on all stakeholders and partners to continue to raise awareness throughout
communities.
We need to ensure
the views of communities are heard too and we can only get them to listen to us
and, in turn, change their behaviour if we understand their logic. For that, we
need tact, time and patience.
Of course, young
people have their part to play in the fight against FGM too and we must empower
them to come up with their own suggestions and ideas. Our role is to support
them, so we ensure a positive change is made for our girls.