Ending FGC in Africa:Ending FGC in Africa:A Look at Four ApproachesA Look at Four Approaches

November 6, 2000November 6, 2000

Best source on this subjectBest source on this subject

1999 World Health 1999 World Health Organization report: Organization report: “Anti-FGM “Anti-FGM Programmes in Africa: Programmes in Africa: What Works and What What Works and What Doesn’t”Doesn’t”

http://www.who.http://www.who.intint//frhfrh--whdwhd//PDFfilesPDFfiles//ProgrammesProgrammes

The approaches The approaches

CriminalizationCriminalization EducationEducation Substitutive ritualSubstitutive ritual Intra-marrying pledge associationsIntra-marrying pledge associations Medicalization (On Wednesday)Medicalization (On Wednesday)

CriminalizationCriminalization

In 1990s, growth in In 1990s, growth in international pressureinternational pressure

modest growth in modest growth in number of African number of African governments banning governments banning FGCFGC

of 24 countries with of 24 countries with FGC, 8 have national FGC, 8 have national bansbans

““Success” of criminalizationSuccess” of criminalization Criminalization Criminalization

supported by some anti-supported by some anti-FGC groups as creating FGC groups as creating “supportive context”“supportive context”

PR offices and media PR offices and media highlight anecdotal highlight anecdotal “successes”: example of “successes”: example of Burkina Faso’s National Burkina Faso’s National Committee on ExcisionCommittee on Excision

General governmental lack of General governmental lack of will and meanswill and means

6 of 8 countries with national bans have no 6 of 8 countries with national bans have no budget or special office to investigate casesbudget or special office to investigate cases

Burkina Faso and Ghana have budget and Burkina Faso and Ghana have budget and personnel, but few witnessespersonnel, but few witnesses

Burkina Faso: since 1990, only 36 cases have Burkina Faso: since 1990, only 36 cases have gone to trial, only 10 are in jailgone to trial, only 10 are in jail

Ghana: since 1994, only 2 trials, both Ghana: since 1994, only 2 trials, both acquittedacquitted

““Reactance”Reactance” ClandestinityClandestinity

– Drives FGC underground: night-time rituals, in forest Drives FGC underground: night-time rituals, in forest instead of village; lookoutsinstead of village; lookouts

RashesRashes– Kenya in 1992; Sudan in 1995; Gambia early 1990sKenya in 1992; Sudan in 1995; Gambia early 1990s– fears of new laws or enforcement lead to rashesfears of new laws or enforcement lead to rashes– overall average decline in age of cutting (by 4-5 years)overall average decline in age of cutting (by 4-5 years)– decline in ritual (fear of discovery, disconnection from decline in ritual (fear of discovery, disconnection from

age)age)

Criminalization makes education Criminalization makes education more difficultmore difficult

Hard to undertake Hard to undertake thorough education in thorough education in context of fear of jailcontext of fear of jail

““How do you discuss How do you discuss something that isn’t something that isn’t supposed to be supposed to be happening? The girls are happening? The girls are afraid we will turn them afraid we will turn them in to the authorities.”in to the authorities.”

Educational programsEducational programs

70% of all anti-FGM 70% of all anti-FGM work on NGOs is work on NGOs is devoted to raising devoted to raising awareness of medical awareness of medical consequencesconsequences– women’s health women’s health

workshopsworkshops– literature disseminationliterature dissemination– mediamedia

The impact of such programs: a The impact of such programs: a mixed bagmixed bag

Education an essential precondition for behavioral Education an essential precondition for behavioral changechange

But where the main activity is simply education, But where the main activity is simply education, change is spotty and slowchange is spotty and slow– Mali: in one study, only 2% of women exposed to Mali: in one study, only 2% of women exposed to

workshops said they were convinced excision causes workshops said they were convinced excision causes severe health problemssevere health problems

– Burkina Faso: after 6 years of educational campaigns, Burkina Faso: after 6 years of educational campaigns, only 19% of exposed women convinced of dangers of only 19% of exposed women convinced of dangers of FGCFGC

Information often irrelevant or Information often irrelevant or inaccurateinaccurate

Anti-FGC campaigns Anti-FGC campaigns emerged out of heat of emerged out of heat of 1980s: used El-Dareer data1980s: used El-Dareer data

““This isn’t what we do This isn’t what we do here!” (Gambia)here!” (Gambia)

““Bolokoli cannot obstruct Bolokoli cannot obstruct menstruation!” (Mali)menstruation!” (Mali)

““But no excisor forces But no excisor forces herself on parents!” herself on parents!” (Burkina Faso)(Burkina Faso)

Information often abstract and Information often abstract and time-consumingtime-consuming

““What do I care about What do I care about all these numbers?”all these numbers?”

““For this I gave up a For this I gave up a morning in the morning in the market?”market?”

Information often offensiveInformation often offensive

““Excisors do what they Excisors do what they do from love and do from love and caring. Not to ‘butcher’ caring. Not to ‘butcher’ anyone!” (Egypt)anyone!” (Egypt)

TV info-mercial TV info-mercial showing old man showing old man informing on co-informing on co-villagers (Burkina villagers (Burkina Faso)Faso)

But… educational programs can But… educational programs can workwork

In some villages in Eritrea, up to 50% of In some villages in Eritrea, up to 50% of girls now disapprove of FGCgirls now disapprove of FGC

In many villages and towns with high-In many villages and towns with high-quality programs, attitudes are changing: in quality programs, attitudes are changing: in Gambia, growth of anti-FGC sentiment in Gambia, growth of anti-FGC sentiment in targeted villages, up to 60% (Association targeted villages, up to 60% (Association for the Promotion of Gambian Women’s for the Promotion of Gambian Women’s Health -- AGPWA)Health -- AGPWA)

Features of effective educational Features of effective educational programsprograms

Up-to-date, accurate, realistic Up-to-date, accurate, realistic informationinformation

Hands-on projects for Hands-on projects for improvement of women’s improvement of women’s liveslives

““Working” seminarsWorking” seminars Work through pre-existing Work through pre-existing

women’s groupswomen’s groups Based in learner-generated Based in learner-generated

materials: proverbs, plays, etc.materials: proverbs, plays, etc. Non-directive, non-preachyNon-directive, non-preachy

But…attitudinal change is not the But…attitudinal change is not the same as behavioral changesame as behavioral change

In Eritrea, good educational campaigns In Eritrea, good educational campaigns since late 1980ssince late 1980s

50% of girls and young mothers 50% of girls and young mothers disapprove/have serious doubts about FGCdisapprove/have serious doubts about FGC

95% of girls continue to be cut95% of girls continue to be cut

Substitute rites of passageSubstitute rites of passage

About 20% of all anti-About 20% of all anti-FGM programs are FGM programs are experimenting with experimenting with thesethese

Most successful: some Most successful: some villages in Kenya and villages in Kenya and GambiaGambia

““Cutting with words” in GambiaCutting with words” in Gambia

Format of traditional Format of traditional ritualritual– girls sit for 12 hrs/daygirls sit for 12 hrs/day– eat low to groundeat low to ground– elder women discipline elder women discipline

and teachand teach– girls dance, drum, girls dance, drum,

feast, sing, make a feast, sing, make a pledgepledge

Why it seems to be workingWhy it seems to be working

Framed as a “revival” of Framed as a “revival” of sacred traditionssacred traditions

Framed as a way to Framed as a way to “discipline” youth“discipline” youth

Anti-FGC message Anti-FGC message surrounded by lots of surrounded by lots of “secret” knowledge about “secret” knowledge about women’s healthwomen’s health

Excisers treated with Excisers treated with great respectgreat respect

Criticism of the new ritualsCriticism of the new rituals

In Gambia: “What we need is not a new In Gambia: “What we need is not a new ritual that once again teaches girls ritual that once again teaches girls obedience and their proper role. We need to obedience and their proper role. We need to teach girls to be themselves and to be free, teach girls to be themselves and to be free, not to be subordinate. . . I am against FGC not to be subordinate. . . I am against FGC not just because of the cutting, but because not just because of the cutting, but because of what it represents: the same old of what it represents: the same old patriarchal values!”patriarchal values!”

Intra-marrying pledge Intra-marrying pledge associationsassociations

Just starting in Senegal: perhaps the most Just starting in Senegal: perhaps the most promising initiative of allpromising initiative of all

July 31, 1997: village of Malicounda made July 31, 1997: village of Malicounda made a public declaration to abandon FGCa public declaration to abandon FGC

Today: 30 villages throughout Senegal have Today: 30 villages throughout Senegal have done thisdone this

How can they have done this?How can they have done this? Proximity to WolofProximity to Wolof Deep education programDeep education program

– village income-generating projectsvillage income-generating projects– broad health project (anti-diarrhea)broad health project (anti-diarrhea)

““Ritual” justifications increasingly seen as Ritual” justifications increasingly seen as hypocriticalhypocritical– school at odds with seclusionschool at odds with seclusion– growing awareness that it is un-Islamicgrowing awareness that it is un-Islamic– declining age of girls cut: inconsistent with initiationdeclining age of girls cut: inconsistent with initiation