“Breaking the Myth: the role of communities, family, school and the media in transforming social conventions and promoting FGM abandonment”
The second thematic session was attended by representatives of the local communities, teachers, religious activist for the promotion of the abandonment of FGM and journalists. The debate focused basically on the education strategies leading towards the awareness that the FGM are a violations of human rights, and on how members of different religious community – mainly the Muslim and Catholic communities – consider this practice.
The session was conducted using the participatory approach, which allowed participants to contribute towards the development of the report and resolutions here by submitted.
PARTICIPANT’S CONTRIBUTION
What is FGM and where is it practiced?
”FGM” is an internationally recognized term for the surgical procedure that involves total or partial removal of the external female genitalia. Otherwise the practice is widely known as female circumcision. It is a harmful traditional practice that affects girls and women in at least 27 out of 46 African countries. It is to be noted that the practice of FGM is not at all times practiced as mostly and wrongly perceived as a rite of passage but is in communities such as the Somali practiced as a sign of prestige to the parents and the family of the girl who has so been circumcised.
This translates to an estimated 85-114 million girls having been circumcised in the world so far.
FGM is classified into 4 types as follows:
Clitoridectomy. It involves cutting the tip of the clitoris.Excision. It involves removal of the clitoris and a part of the inner or outer labia. It is more severe than clitoridectomy.
Infibulation. It is a mix of clitoridectomy and excision. It involves the stitching together of the inner or outer labia leaving only a small hole for menstruation. In some communities that practice infibulation, the girl is made to bring her legs together after the operation. The intention is for her to heal without the sewing. It is the worst of the 4 types and very severe indeed.Unclassified type takes care of all the other forms of circumcision, for example piercing the clitoris, the introduction of corrosive substances or herbs into the vagina to cause bleeding and any other procedure that does not fit in the other three.
Kenyan communities practice all the first three types of circumcision. In Africa alone the estimate is that two million girls are circumcised every year. All the same, the prevalence varies from country to country. Somalia is estimated to have the highest prevalence of 98% while DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) has the lowest prevalence of 5%. Other African countries with high prevalence rates are Egypt with 97%, Eritrea with 94.5%, Mali with 93.7% and Sudan with 89.2%.The countries of Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia and Sudan account for roughly 75% of all cases.In Kenya, only 4 out of the total 42 ethnic groupings don’t practice FGM. More current research is however needed to determine the current status since these facts date back to 1999. Leading communities in FGM in Kenya include Kisii (97%), Maasai (89%), Kalenjin (62%), Taita Taveta (59%), Meru/Embu (54%), Kikuyu (43%), Kamba (33%) and Mijikenda/Swahili with 12%.’
Conference Resource Material
The resource material submitted to facilitate the session is included in the report as Annex.
Purpose of the session
The session is held to achieve the following objectives;
- To share the research of various presenters
- Share cross boarder experience
- Share the strategies and the methods of eradication of FGM
- Create consensus amongst participants of this session
- To develop and agree on a pledge to mobilize communities for eradication of FGM
Session Evaluation
The participants were pleased with the outcome of the session including the facilities facilitation and subject matter. In this session the time limitation due to the diversity of the subject was the major challenge that was faced by the participants.
THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY, FAMILY, SCHOOLS, MEDIA AND MEDIA IN TRANSFORMING SOCIAL CONVENTIONS AND PROMOTING FGM ABANDONMENT
International Experience
Participants listened about the action taken by other countries for the abandonment of FGM. Points of debate have been:
1. The creation of National Committee of action for the abandonment of bad practices for the health of woman and children. This committees has worked on information and sensitization and for public declarations to put an end to FGM practices and follow up to ensure sustainability of this declarations
2. A ministerial prohibition letter forbidding FGM in medical structures
3. Recent acceptance by religious leaders to join in the fight against FGM
4. Institutional intervention including lectures in high school on the damaging effect of FGM5. A systematic approach towards the dissemination of information on FGM. This begins with door to door campaigns and are followed by community groups and the hierarchy continues to the top at the national offices.
The introduction of a budget line by the government to fight FGM by the respective governments have now decided to increase the resources dedicated to the fight against FGM.The coordination of the government effort with the NGOs has broken the existing taboos in the society and causing discussions and a debate in the society hence opening room for deliberations and other dialogue.
The continuous interaction with Members of Parliament in the seeking the right moment to introduce a bill to out law FGM has been underlined, as seeking dialogue with local decision makers.It is also important the community involvement in the activities targeting the eradication of FGM.Use of media as a dissemination tool for information on FGM has been recognised as a speedy and proper way for the dissemination of information.
The difficulties faced in the eradicating FGM
Raising points of difficulties have been identified as follows:
1. The hostility of religious leaders who defend the practice as linked to religious believes and practice
2. The neo conformists of intellectual community who see in the fight against FGM an attack against the authenticity of local culture3. The fact that a large percentage of women defend the practice of FGM4. The lack of information in remote areas of the countries
5. The lack of coordination among the advocators of its abandonment6. The lack of support by donors
PROPOSED SOLUTIONS
Alternative Rite of Passage (ARP)
The communities from generation to generation celebrated the coming to adult age of their young boys and girls with rites of initiation and passage to adulthood, and passed this rich tradition to all future generations: in particular the circumcision rite. It is a time of great joy and merry making and celebrations. The girl turns into a woman is perceived as such from that day on in her community.FGM is a sensitive cultural custom that is high valued; this is mainly due to the great implications it carries (transition from childhood to motherhood) in the life of the person and communities that practice initiation. These include instilling values, training and grooming to uphold family stability and preparation for the future.
The girls are only considered marriageable when they have been circumcised and several myths are also the cause of anxiety in the community.
These include for example:
the husband of an uncircumcised girl will die;
the midwife who delivers uncircumcised girls will be blind;
the uncircumcised girl will remain immature and dirty.
Some people views as irresponsible and imitators of western culture the women who do not circumcise their daughters; others see them as strong and liberated.
This demonstrates community ambivalence about accepting FGM.
Research also indicates that celebrations, gifts, and family life education associated with FGM, compensate for the hardships that girls and women endure in undergoing the ritual. These celebrations and gifts can become positive tools towards FGM eradication if the ritual were modified to exclude the ritualistic “cutting”’.
Major attempts have been made to address this problem but the hitch has most of the time been the cultural factor as opposed to political, religious or medical actors.Nevertheless, a substitute has been found.
ARP (Alternative Rite of Passage) seems to have been birthed to do exactly that.
“ARP” is a brainchild of Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organisation (MYWO). The first successful ARP was carried out in 1996 among the Meru people in Tharaka Nithi District of Kenya. From then on, ARP has stood as a strong model in the effort to eradicate FGM.It is a modern practice that serves as a substitute to FGM, a ceremony that borrows the positive cultural meaning of the “coming of age” ceremony except the cut. It incorporates traditional values while blending them with modern family life education.
ARP, in addressing social dimensions, gives the girl, the family, the peers and the entire community all that they received and indeed more in the traditional initiation. The girl, for instance, gets more in the package preparing her to be a responsible adult. In addition, to being taught in how to behave responsibly, she gets HIV/AIDS education; adolescents body changes and exposure to career choices. Essentially the initiate who undergoes ARP is better equipped to face life and able to wiser choices. The high though for the ARP though is that she does not undergo the cut. The idea behind ARP is that the girl’s heart and mind rather than the body gets the circumcision.Just like FGM, ARP is known by different names to different communities. In Marakwet Community for instance, it is known as “Kapkoro Ma Jebiwot" meaning the ritual of Mama Jebiwot. This is because she was the first activist against FGM in this community and also among the first ARP graduates.From the first attempt of ARP, documentation and publicity helped popularize it among implementers. Organizations like PATH and Save the Children Canada - Kenya Office, assisted a great deal in documentation of ARP training materials. As a result, so many other organizations like World Vision, GTZ and NFPK have taken up ARP.
The ARP art has continued to be perfected. A lot of modifications have been introduced into the initial ARP celebration that took place back in 1996. However, the principle and purpose still holds, those girls get public recognition that they have become of age without the circumcision.
The shift in the practices and the perceptions of FGM
The objective of an analysis of the shift in the trends of practice and perceptions is to access the role that FGM plays today in comparison with yester years. In the early 1940s and 50s discussions on FGM were considered taboo. FGM graduates were enjoined to silence and a taboo placed on the persons who dared to divulge any of this secrets. Today there are a number of forums and conferences that discuss the issue of FGM openly, including this particular international conference that seeks to eradicated the practice of FGM.FGM today is used as a political tool to dilute the image of the challenging person and to dispense with women parliamentarians who join in the fight against the FGM as Westernized and unworthy of taking up leadership roles.The performance of FGM previously required elaborate preparation on the part of the individual and intense community involvement. The circumcision ceremonies were a communal celebration that was performed in age groups. However today the practice is carried out at individual/family levels, leaving the parents have to give flimsy excuses as to the whereabouts of their daughter and why their daughter is in isolation. Circumcision is not done at a particular time but is at the insistence of the parents at the time they see fit.
Circumcisers in traditional Kenyan society enjoyed a high status in the community an they were well respected and rewarded for their jobs. Today, legislation has been passed that prohibits and allows for the reporting the intent or performance of FGM. This has caused the practice to go into what may be passed off as a down ward trend in the cases of FGM while in fact it is now an undercover operation.The identification and the caretakers were significant. Today, medicalization has served to delegate some of the caretakers duties to medical practitioners.Intermarriage is also another major reason for the change in the previous trend where the practicing communities have been engaged in the social and marital contracts with other communities.The age and the form circumcision has also under gone some changes making the age at which the girls undergo the cut much lower, preventing the detection by authorities or rejection by the girls.
Why FGM has persisted/challenges
Lack of awareness by the grass root practicing community. This is mainly due to the remoteness of the grassroots communities level hence the harm of this practices that have been widely publicized has yet to reach the concerned persons at the grass root level.Participation by the media in the eradication of FGM in Kenya has yet to live up to its potential in comparison with other countries where the media both electronic and printed have undertaken vigorous campaigns that have seen communities become more aware of the rights of the girl child and the adversity of the practice of FGM. The Media being an important kit for creating awareness on matters of great concern such as this, has taken a lax approach at the attempt to sensitizing the community as a whole.FGM is also a tool with which the families enhance their social status and cohesion with the community.Medicalization of the practice has caused the practice to be viewed as safe making it to be more widely practiced.The lack of commitment by both the community leaders, women and girls to the ARP and the abandonment of FGM has also made the fight against FGM an UNSUSTAINABLE programme. The commitment of participants at all levels of integration in projects workshops and programmes has been short lived for most and the participants still armed with their knowledge still undergo FGM there after.Kenya being a developing country there are other needs that are prioritized by both government and the private individual. This include the very basic needs as the likes of food and water, that are of greater concern to the rural communities. This is seen especially where organizations that only partake the FGM agenda are often unsuccessful due to the lack of provision of other services like general medical attention.The commercialization of FGM has caused the practice to widely grow as it has become a lucrative business as operation become more expensive with the legislation prohibiting the performance of the FGM.
Way forward/ beginning creation of a political and social will?
The following key recommendations were discussed as possible ways to eradicate FGM practices in Kenya.Community education and awareness campaigns on the dangers of FGM have been identified as key strategies.
In addition, a follow-up to this campaigns and a selection of community representatives, who would be trained to lead the awareness forums hence integrating the community and allowing the trainees to reach a wider audience through the interpersonal skills acquired.Alternative Rite of Passage (ARP). This is one concept that seems to have achieved some measure of success at least here in Kenya. Though with a few challenges, it is almost expected that any FGM project in Kenya should have, as a part of its implementation plan, the ARP concept.The recognition of traditional institutions, like the clan of elders, that are instrumental for a change of attitude and opinion. This approach is to be coupled with other tools that encourage the eradication of FGM.Further networking and partnering between the government and CSO’s. It was felt that the fight is taking an international approach now than it ever was with the NARC government being more open to the NGO’s sector (i.e. a first ever-National Conference on the eradication of FGM has been held). Those organizing are drawn from the GoK and the CSO’s. This illustrates how far networking has stretched in Kenya the existence of an umbrella of organizations whose membership drawn from all over the country: this National Focal point (NFP) offers a lot of support to NGO’s in the coordination efforts to fight FGM.
Media plays a crucial role in the eradication of harmful practices, including FGM. The publication of ARP strategy on electronic and in print media enables broadcasting to large audience. Once an event is positively covered by the media, it is relatively “legitimized” and others are able to follow suit.Institutionalized advocacy: schools have been a target base from were the majority youngsters can be reached in communities that widely practice FGM. Girls are easily appreciate FGM practices capacity to negative effects on their education as they are soon after married off by their parents. This was well illustrated in the chilling experiences of the girls of AIC Kajiado.Community participation during eradication campaigns and ARP is crucial, as it gives ownership, legitimacy and sustainability of activities and practices.On the issue of legislating against the practice of FGM, it was captured in several presentation that the legislation in itself is not only cumbersome to the ordinary person but also does little to alleviate the practice. A good demonstration of this effect is the Kenyan experience, that has for 75 years not only lobbied against the practice of FGM but also legislated: nevertheless the trend still continues.It was recommended that, in addition to this approach, sensitization would be a more holistic approach to the eradication of FGM as it is a deeply rooted culture.Another suggestion that was noted with interest since it was sourced from community elders, was that the age at which the girls are circumcised be raised to the age of 18 years and over. Circumcision at this age is performed only after the proof of age is adduced and accepted by the elders. This age allows the girl to make an informed decision as they are wiser, well informed and well versed in their body and sexuality.The integration into school curriculum, religious institution and other institutions, the subject of sexuality and other methods so related was discussed as also another way to eradicate myths and beliefs regarding FGM and culture.Though the eradication of FGM is a community targeted initiative, the male fraternity should also be the center of interest in this area, as they are the decision makers both at home and in the community. Men should come out openly and inform the publics of their experiences on the advantage of marrying a circumcised or uncircumcised lady. Young men should also be encouraged to interact with uncircumcised girls, so to let us to support them and go beyond the need to marry only the circumcised girls.
Alternative income generating activities for the circumciser, would set up.
Role models have been effective where uncircumcised educated successful women talk and inspire girls who are in the valley of making the decision whether to go for FGM or not. This has worked best when the role models are from the practicing community.
Another form of eradication through education that came out strongly was the use of language that is understood well by the wider targeted audience. This applies across both IEC’s (T-shirts, Posters, Pamphlets, Caps, Stickers, Brochures) and all communication mediums.
Furthermore participants suggests other modes of eradication:
- Popularize positive ARP impact- Update documentation to capture new challenges- ARP has to be promoted as good for all, not just for those in FGM practicing communities
- Support the converted girls to finish school- Dispel myths against FGM by practical and true factual evidence
- Advocacy campaigns- The door to door campaign- Peaceful Processions and Conferences
- Sharing information and working strategies between organizations to prevent duplication of roles
The session was concluded by Waris Dirie, who thanked participants for their interventions and wished to meet very soon all together in the next conference for the eradication of FGM.
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