I joined Equality Now and women’s rights activists, survivors, and human rights practitioners for a discussion on the importance and roles of both law and multi-sectoral approach (MSA) in the elimination of Female Genital Mutiliation/Cutting (FGM/C). This event took place on February 16th, 2022 and was moderated by Asenath Mwithigah. Interpretation was provided in English, French and Arabic.
How can not only protect, but advance the rights of women around the world?
FGM/C is a form of discrimination that has life long affects. It directly impacts a woman’s right to dignity, right to life, freedom from torture and inhuman treatment, freedom from discrimination based on gender, and right to the highest attainable health among other rights. Ending FGM/C can be done through advocacy and law, with the two going hand in hand.
While many think that FGM/C is only practiced in Africa, a recent study by Equality Now (in collaboration with the US End FGM/C Network and The European FGM Network) found that FGM/C is carried out in 92 countries. This makes it a global issue that requires a co-ordinated multi-sectoral approach. Of these 92 coutnries where it is practised, only 51 have specifically addressed issues of FGM/C in law.
Are laws alone enough?
Worldwide 68 million women and girls will be at risk of FGM/C by the year 2030 if the current levels of intervention as they are remain in place. As trends are globally changing, so too is the issue itself. As a social norm that does not respect geographic boundaries, FGM/C has filtered into Europe and spread to non-practising countries through migration. This has resulted in FGM affecting every continent.
Speakers underlined that interventions need to be holistic and integrate a multi-sectoral approach to be able to address these emerging issues.
Law sets the standard of what is morally acceptable behaviour. The absence of anti-FGM/C law therefore poses a threat to our efforts to combat the issue. FGM/C challenges the core foundations of human rights and breaches the universal standard of what is morally correct. Laws prohibiting FGM/C have a powerful impact in eliminating the practise.
Time to change challenges into opportunities.
Caroline Lagat stated that although FGM/C is a national priority in many countries, only a handful allocate a budget towards the realisation of their anti-FGM/C strategies or in fact the implementation of programmes targeting to end FGM/C. This point made me realise that the presence of law alone is not enough. Financial resources are essential in the proper implementation of these laws. Caroline stressed that the commitment to end FGM/C also needs to come in the form of financial investment.
The event featured panellist Mariya Taher, who since 2015 has collaborated with the Women’s Bar Association of Massachusetts to pass legislation to protect girls from FGC. Mariya has been an instrumental advocate and expert in ending FGC. She spoke about the need to cover vacation cutting under state law and gave a brief history of FGM/C federal law. In 1996 the US passed a federal law making FGM/C illegal. This law was amended in 2013 to include a travel provision. Mariya explained the success of this law as it closes the loophole that previously existed that allowed for girls to be taken out of the country to have FGM/C performed on them. Mariya agreed that law can be used as a tool to discourage the practice and that this justifies the need for funding.
FGM/C is a crime. It is important how we frame it.
Lou Granier, a French international consultant in development specialising in gender, has specifically dedicated to work towards the eradication of FGM/C and has been working with the world bank and numerous NGO’S. Lou made it clear that every country in the world has a law on FGM/C. The law may not specifically target FGM/C but every jurisdiction provides protection against harm and torture. She explains that France for example does not have a specific FGM/C law. FGM/C, however remains illegal in France. Lou pointed out that using general laws to protect women from FGM is good strategy to consider.
She did state that specific FGM/C laws are important because they specifically define and criminalises it, leaving no room for vagueness and further protecting women from legal discrimination.
The work against FGM goes further than borders.
Madame Bernadette Loloju, a passionate girls rights crusader committed to ending the practice of FGM/C in Kenya also spoke about cross border FGM/C as a challenge. She accurately framed this challenge as ‘people running away from the law’. This demonstrates that law can only stretch so far and that people are going behind the law. Even with law in place we need other strategies in place to end FGM/C. A multi sectoral approach may provide the answer whilst saving on resources such as time. This approach also allows for more collaboration and teamwork.
FGM - a tradition wrapped in extreme secrecy.
Human rights defender, Habiba Al-Hinai, discussed the power of individuals and activists. This is especially prevalent in citations where the government is silent or inactive. The government can provide a law but law has a limited impact. It is the people that can create change by acting as advocates and adding pressure. Ballo Bréhima, a program manager of an NGO in Mali states that law teaches communities that FGM/C is harmful and not good for the health of young girls and women. Education surrounding FGM/C is crucial as someone who is aware of the inequalities of this practice will not cut their daughters. It is also important to change the minds of those who underwent FGM/C themselves. Mariya highlighted that survivors can also be the voices for their own daughters. An important point I took away from this webinar is that with FGM/C, the problem is not that the law does not condone it, but that the culture in which it occurs reinforces it.
The panel discussion followed by a question and answer session led by Paleki Ayang. I particularly enjoyed the interactive event aspect of this event as questions and comments in the chatbox were addressed by the esteemed panellists.
You can watch the recording of this event here.