Changing attitudes to FGM

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Changing attitudes to FGM in the UK and
abroad Comfort Momoh FGM/Public Health
Specialist Guys and St Thomas Hospital
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• The issue of FGM is multi- faceted and complex
• Amongst many groups, FGM is a long-standing
  traditional practice that has become
  inseparable from ethnic and socio-cultural
  identity

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• For women it is not only a painful ordeal,
  but a means of social bargaining and
  negotiation for societies it is a collective
  identity marker a status symbol in the fullest
  sense as well as a creator of cohesion

International Conference on Population and
Development
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• In the early days of campaigning FGM was seen as
  a taboo subject
• The work of non-governmental organisations like
  FORWARD, BWHAFS, ACCM and RAINBO has undoubtedly
  resulted in changes in attitude to FGM in many UK
  cities and abroad

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• Innovative projects are taking place with
  local religious and community leaders within
  practising communities
• Attitudes are changing, with women, and men,
  showing a willingness to talk more freely about
  FGM

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• Communities are mobilising and becoming more
  actively involved in working to eradicate the
  practice of FGM
• Lobbying of UK politicians has resulted in
  increased collaboration between Government,
  professionals and NGOs BUT

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• Despite the existence of numerous policy
  documents that outline procedures for
  information sharing and inter- agency
  co-operation, the reality is that there have
  been no prosecutions under the 2003 FGM Act or
  its 1985 predecessor

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• National and local events - like this conference
  today are raising awareness of FGM amongst
  professionals and volunteers involved in
  safeguarding the welfare of those women and girls
  affected by this harmful practice

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• The issue of FGM is on the agenda for most
  African countries at government, health
  professionals NGOs and grass-root community level
  
• But the biggest challenge remains changing
  attitudes and minds at family and village level
• FGM is a woman's domain, perceived, as
  empowering, consequently, it is much more
  difficult to convince women to give it up than
  men.

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• It is important to understand that there are
  many, many people in the communities which
  practise FGM, who are opposed to the practice and
  have worked for many years within their own
  cultures, persuading families that they do not
  have to follow tradition and impose this harmful
  act upon their daughters

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• In the long run it is through the work of these
  people that we are most likely to succeed in
  eradicating FGM
• They need our help and support, not our moral
  indignation or subjective judgements about their
  cultures
• It is through the work of villagers in small
  communities that we are most likely to succeed in
  eradicating FGM

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• The practice is still widespread in spite of a
  global commitment following the 2002 UN Special
  Session on Children to end FGM by 2010.
• The practice thrives in an environment of silence
  and secrecy and this makes it difficult to break
  existing customs
• This makes the practice a self-reinforcing social
  convention

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• Progress is being made but work must continue
• Lobby and engage politicians, as well as
  cultural, religious and traditional leaders
• Organise events to publicise work being done
• Educate/train those who have contact with those
  affected by FGM
• Stay committed to eradication of FGM