DFID's Blogs on FGM: Activist Strategies

"The practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) in Sierra Leone is shrouded in great secrecy and mysticism...It is at the core of an ancient initiation ceremony, a rite of passage into womanhood." Alimatu Dimonekene, ProjectACEi

 The Department of International Development (DFID) United Kingdom (UK) Girl Summit 2014 has focused attention on both the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) and child early and forced marriage (CEFM), with the intent of uniting individuals, organisations, and governments to end the practices. This group of bloggers gathered by DFID presents a range of perspectives and approaches as detailed below:

• How is Ebola affecting FGM in Sierra Leone? - Blogger Alimatu Dimonekene is a community activist and founder of ProjectACEi (Act, Commit, Empower & Inspire). The project's aim is to "work with communities, young girls and their families, to help empower and educate all those involved in female genital mutilation, to help change their views and change the future of young women." She explains the fear in Sierra Leone of the spiritual power of the cutters or “Soweis” - "often much older women who are revered and respected." Even the term FGM is not used for fear of offending them. Social norms dictate being part of a women's secret society, in which FGM is required, in order to avoid discrimination, stigma, and threats from society. However, the threat of Ebola reduced the incidence of FGM because cutters were seen as a possible source of spreading the disease. The national government seized the opportunity to ban FGM and create a Nationwide Gender Assessment - research looking at campaigns to educate traditional healers and cutters on the risks and dangers of performing FGM. Dimonekene recommends that "Sierra Leone needs a comprehensive national strategy and action plan that brings together government, civil society and development partners and enhances co-ordination, accountability and implementation of evidence based programmes at a sub-national level to reduce FGM." She observes that work together across borders "to share policies, best practice, and legislation", as a result of the Girl Summit, may make the difference in developing "a social change communications strategy, rais[ing] awareness through the education system, and provid[ing] support for civil society groups....The Sierra Leonean diaspora have been key in the campaign to end FGM in the UK", including an ACEi #StandingUpToFGM Conference with Enfield Council in London, UK. Dimonekene suggests taking local action against the traditional practice: "For example, initiate a campaign of awareness among boys and men against FGM. Help motivate men to shun violence, protest against violence, support survivors and provide new role models."

• Collaboration and empowerment: together we can end FGM in a generation - Blogger Dr. Comfort Momoh, FGM/Public Health Specialist at Guy’s and St Thomas’ African Well Woman’s Clinic. Dr. Momoh writes on the suggestion of medicalisation of the practice of FGM - harmful because, though it can save pain, infection and hemmorrhaging, danger of HIV and Ebola, and birth problems, it is a denial of "girls' ...right to freedom and health." She feels that the medical profession has another role: "Firstly, we need to create safe and welcoming environments for survivors to be able to meet each other and be able to talk about their experiences; we need to engage with the community, sign posting to the right services; we need to focus on communication and language barriers to enable us to give tools and information to empower. This includes safeguarding information, so families are informed and know how to help themselves and their siblings, for example the NSPCC [National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children] helpline phone number." Dr. Momoh also recommended collaboration across borders "to build robust international relationships to       encourage world leaders to join forces to tackle FGM together", for example, her DFID-funded scoping study   of FGM in Nigeria. Participation is also a focus, e.g., frontline clinical staff reporting about FGM.

• Ending FGM: it all starts with one brave mother - Grace Keppel, #YouthForChange is a global partnership of young activists and their organisations working together in the drive to realise girls’ rights and end harmful traditional practices, including FGM and CEFM. This blog came out of an event "developed by young people for young people to ignite action around girls’ rights and strengthen young people as leaders of the future." Keppel reflected on event presenters who suffered the consequences of FGM and those who narrowly avoided the procedure. The breaking of the taboo of talking about FGM and its lifelong consequences is a focus for Keppel: " If every child grows up believing FGM is not normal or purposeful, then we could end FGM in one generation." See the video below for more thinking of #YouthForChange activists.