Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices

THE GAMBIA, 15 March 2009 - The Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices affecting the Health of Women and Children (GAMCOTRAP) in partnership with IAC embarked on training and information campaign with young people on sexual and reproductive health and rights and harmful traditional practice including Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

The two activities formed part of the broader goal of strengthening an effective youth advocacy network on FGM/HTP, included in the recommendations of IAC’s 3rd Regional Youth Forum in September, 2008. It was observed that youth are a very important target group, future parents and leaders. Their involvement to take leadership in the fight against FGM is critical.

Activities

A training and Information campaign was conducted with youths at community level in the Western Region of the Gambia in January 2009. There is a high prevalence rate of FGM in this region with 87% of women, aged 15 to 49, already undergone FGM, while 84% of the women would want their children to undergo FGM (Multi Indicator Cluster Survey 2005/2006 – The Gambia). The programme identified participants from the village structures and schools to build their capacities and facilitate networking amongst them, as well as integrate the FGM debate in their school and community based activities as Peer Health Educators and youth volunteers.

A second training and information campaign which also formed part of the project targeted young people from the Lower Nuimi District in The North Bank Region. This region was identified for three important reasons:

1.There was a call by the youth of the region for the programme
2.There is high prevalence rate of FGM in the region (61% circumcised, 59% want their children to be circumcised)
3.There was less intervention in the area regarding the FGM campaign

Two youth organizations (Save Humanity Foundation and Sajuka Children and Youth Association) took the lead in the process to engage and create awareness of their members and communities as well as network with the GAMCOTRAP Youth Advocacy Group (GAMYAG).
The training coincided with the International Zero Tolerance day on FGM (February 6th, 2009). Community leaders and Security officials as well as members of the community were engaged in the programme.

Outcomes

The two programmes contributed effectively to strengthening the groups, and it is envisaged that their work will consolidate other networks of young people in the fight against harmful traditional practices to ensure the realization of the goals set by GAMCOTRAP as well as the IAC 3rd Regional Youth Forum.

As part of the recommendations, participants call for more dialogue with the communities and provide more training materials for the networks. They also recommend the creation of a platform were youth networks will meet on quarterly basis for orientations, capacity building and to reached out to more people in the campaign.

The students call GAMCOTRAP to organize community sensitization for their parents and religious scholars.

On February 9th the Concord Times of Freetown, Sierra Leone reported that two female journalists have been abducted by “soweis”, women who perform FGM. The two journalists conducted interviews as part of the observance of the International Day on Zero Tolerance of FGM. Their reports were considered a deliberate show of disrespect for tradition by the women, who had abducted them. One of the women, who was held hostage, was stripped of her clothes, surrounded by senior soweis and was paraded through the streets.

In a press release the journalist association of Sierra Leone condemned the abduction and said: “We condemn in the strongest of terms these illegal arrests and detention in a Bondo Bush of the journalists and reiterate our appeal to the public that formal and civilized channels exist for seeking redress which must be respected."

The Government of Sudan has decided to allow the Sunna practice of FGM (Type I), as expressed in the advisory opinion of the Islamic Fiqh Academy that distinguishes between harmful circumcision (Type III, or Infibulation) and the less extensive procedure, the Type I (or Sunna).

The Sudanese cabinet recently dropped article (13) of the children's Act 2009 that prohibited all forms of FGM. Although a law prohibiting "Infibulation" in the Penal Code is currently under preparation, the decision to allow FGM Type I leaves room for abuse.
 
Legalizing the Sunna type will encourage other forms of FGM to be continued too. It will be difficult to measure the degree of mutilation that girls will be subjected to. In addition to that, the Sudanese approach may have a negative influence on the legal situation of neighbouring countries. We would like to take into consideration the million of girls that are at risk of been subjected to this practice, as the removal of the complete ban on FGM can be misinterpreted by parents and midwives as an approval of any type of FGM.
 
The compromise to permit one kind of FGM and to prohibit only the severe forms is therefore risky and dangerous especially as religious groups in other neighbouring countries, e.g. Somalia, Djibouti, Yemen, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and many Sunni communities in West Africa could follow the Islamic fatwa that the Sudan ministers relied on.
 
This recent action by the Sudanese government contravenes all international and regional policy frameworks and legal instruments on the rights of women and girls to health and against any form of violence. In addition, the Vienna declaration affirmed that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, hence no traditional or religious context can be used as an excuse. Therefore, if this practice is allowed to continue, it will jeopardize the work of IAC and its Sudanese National Committee (SNCTP) and our achievements in the struggle against FGM.
 
It is in this regard that we would like to call on you to add your voice and appeal to the government of Sudan to look into a total abandonment of the practice by sending a letter of protest to the Government of Sudan through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy based in your respective countries to look into this issue and ensure the total eradication of this harmful and shameful practice.

To mark the International Day on Zero Tolerance to FGM Berhane Ras-Work, IAC’s Executive Director, gave an interview to the Population Reference Bureau. She explains the harmful consequences of FGM, the significance of the International Day on Zero Tolerance to FGM and the action taken to end this practice.

You can listen to her interview here.

TOGO, 26 September 2008: We have arrived safely in Lome. I'd like to thank the organizers of this third Youth Forum. I'd like to thank especially Dr. Kouyate and Ms. Linda [Osarenren; note from the translator], who spare no effort in the fight against FGM. This forum taught me a lot and was, once again an occasion to share the experiences with other countries.

 Yours truly, Celine M. YAMBOTE

BENIN, 26 September 2008: Dear Dr. [Kouyate; note from the translator]

I would like express my sincere gratitude for all your actions in Africa, which you take in your various roles, but especially for your effort in the fight against FGM. You have a vision for our continent and your engagement can only evoke admiration and encouragement for us who'd like to equal you. I was deeply touched by your efforts during the last Youth Forum in Accra, which you have organized and with which you have succeeded. [...] However, you can count on me for my support for your activities.

Alassane ZOUMAROU

Technical Consultant of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce

TANZANIA, August 2008:
Victoria says ’No’ to FGM
In January this year, Victoria Wema of Chamae village ran away from FGM. Victoria is a primary school student at Chamae primary school. She says she had been sick for several days at the beginning of this year. Her mother and grandmother secretly arranged to take her away from their village to a distant village to perform FGM on her. They believed she had an infection known as “Lawalawa”, and that FGM can cure this illness. Her grandmother was not able to keep the secret and told Victoria, thinking that she would appreciate their plan. After learning this Victoria ran to her head teacher for protection. The head teacher took her to Kongwa District Hospital, where she was treated of whatever infection she suffered from and was cured. When asked why she reported the case to the head teacher. Victoria said, “I thank DIAC for conducting programs on FGM to children, because it was through child-to-child education on the harmful effects of FGM,  I knew of its effects what to do if was faced with any problem in relation to such a violation.”

Ten girls from 3 families suspected of having undergone FGM
In July this year Dickson Kunamila of Sejeli village went to educate three families on FGM as there were rumors that one a particular female member was one the excisers who continued to carry out the practice covertly. This caused some anger and next one family went to Dickson’s house and took him to the village office. They complained that Dickson had alleged that their sister practiced FGM, asking to officer to verify the truth or they would otherwise take legal action against Dickson. When Dickson notified DIAC officers, the village leaders ordered that all the girls in the 3 families including Dickson’ s daughters undergo a physical check to verify if any of them had been exposed to the practice. The check, conducted at the Kongwa District hospital, verified that all the ten girls were free from FGM. 

SWITZERLAND, 24 May 2008: The 61st World Health Assembly has met in Geneva, Switzerland. The Assembly constitutes the highest governing body of the World Health Organization. It was attended by a record 2,704 participants from 190 nations, and sets WHO on course to tackle one of the longest existing threats to global public health. Among other issues, it considered the report from the secretariat on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and emerged with a resolution against FGM (Resolution A61/46n). This is an important breakthrough in public health and it provides a platform for the acceleration of actions towards the removal of barriers and elimination of FGM. In commenting on this resolution, WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan noted, inter alia, that "This is a major breakthrough for public health that will benefit many millions of people for many years to come," "…. a contribution to fairness in health and this is pro-active public health at its very best."

Indeed, the passage of the resolution could be regarded as an affirmation that Member States acknowledges that Female Genital Mutilation violates the human rights of girls and women, including their right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. The passage of this resolution also entailed commitment of Member States to acceleration of action towards the elimination of this practice through laws, educational and community efforts. This particular outcome of the Assembly also leaves room for better support to women and girls who have undergone FGM, particularly as regards their care during childbirth, as well as in the social and psychological areas.

It is noteworthy that The Inter-African Committee Against Harmful Traditional Practice (IAC) played a very important role in enlightening the public and related stakeholders in the event leading to the Assembly.  Among others, IAC organized a parallel event that was well attended by some Ministers and senior officials from the Health department of different countries, representatives of permanent missions of different countries, representatives of different UN agencies and other International organizations as well as other stakeholders and interested parties. At this event different presentations were made by representatives of different UN organizations on the issue of FGM. Presentations were made by representatives of UNESCO, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNHCR, and OIM. The meeting was chaired by the representative of UNESCO who came from its headquarters in Paris at the request of IAC. Ideas were exchanged on the seriousness of the problem and the need for more governmental involvement through concrete actions. The importance of the adoption of the proposed resolution was stressed and encouraged. Recognising the reluctance of some government to adopt the resolution when it was tabled at the 60th session of the World Health Assembly, IAC took a proactive role of lobbying governments which culminated in the organisation of a special event at the 61st assembly. The different  presentations made by the participants at the meeting, including from the government delegates, NGOs and Un agencies were all in support of the adoption of the resolution and follow up actions.

The 61st assembly finally endorsed the resolution number A61/46n. Please click here to see details of the resolution. At present, IAC has started consultation with WHO on future collaboration to promote and popularize this important outcome document.

SWITZERLAND, 23 May 2008: IAC has made a statement as part of the NGO Advisory Group on Health Promotion at WHO's 61st World Health Assembly in Geneva:

"The Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (IAC) is a membership organisation with National Committees in 28 African countries and affiliates in Europe, Canada, Japan and the USA. It focuses on harmful traditional practices as health hazards and violation of basic human rights.

Para 2(6) of Resolution WHA60.24 calls for the exchange of information with international non-health forums. For many years IAC has been working with WHO in the field of health promotion individually and, with the support and encouragement of WHO, in coordination with a number of NGOs that form the NGO Advisory Group on Health Promotion. 

We welcome Resolution WHA 60.24 and the Progress Report "Health Promotion in a Globalized World" and note with pleasure that WHO wishes to strengthen the capacity for health promotion across the Organization and at the regional level.  

Our partners are international NGOs, many of whom are present at the Assembly today, all with grass roots affiliates and concerned with different aspects of health promotion. Our strength lies in the fact that we have encouraged NGOs, who normally are not involved in health, to include health promotion as part of their agendas.

Our common website for the NGO Advisory Group on Health Promotion at www.ngos4healthpromotion.net demonstrates our work with WHO – in particular it shows our current Platform of Action on Local Wisdom and Traditional Knowledge with its links to Health Promotion. 

Like you we believe that Health promotion is key to maintaining good health and preventing disease across the globe, at all levels of society. We NGOs are a vital part of achieving this goal and will continue helping WHO."

Thirty-seven participants from 23 African countries congregated in Hotel Ivoire, Abidjan for the symposium, among them religious leaders, media representatives and officials from the Ministry of Health. Topics discussed included FGM from the medical, anthropological and legal perspectives. A three-year Action Plan (2008-2010) was developed to combat FGM and the mistaken beliefs about the role that religion plays in this practice. Some participants who had taken part in the 2005 symposia made presentations on the grassroots mobilisation they engaged in since that time.

There was in-depth discussion about the place of FGM in Islam and Christianity and the verdict was that the practice has no place in both religions. The symposium culminated with a powerful Declaration of Commitment aimed at ending FGM in Africa.