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Was können lokale NGOs und Initiativen vor Ort tun, um FGM entgegen zu wirken?

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Was können lokale NGOs und Initiativen vor Ort tun, um FGM entgegen zu wirken?

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Wo seht ihr Schwierigkeiten?
Gibt es eventuell auch Vorteile gegenüber internationalen NGOs?
Wie schätzt ihr die Wirkungsweise von lokalen NGOs und Initiativen vor Ort ein?

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Between 2010 and 2016, the overall prevalence for women aged 15-49 fell from 14.6% to 10%. Due to the large age-range of women included, however, the overall prevalence alone may not fully reflect the progress that has been made in recent years. Breaking down the most recent data by age group shows that the prevalence for women aged 45-49 is 18.7%, while for the youngest age group this has fallen to 4.7%. Despite the fact that a small proportion of women may be cut after the age of 15, the data demonstrates a clear trend towards lower prevalences among younger women

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HIMD | Health Integrated Multispectral Development (HIMD)

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Between 2010 and 2016, the overall prevalence for women aged 15-49 fell from 14.6% to 10%. Due to the large age-range of women included, however, the overall prevalence alone may not fully reflect the progress that has been made in recent years.

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Former beauty queen fights FGM in Tanzania

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Eine Studie zu aktuellen Initiativen vor Ort
Quelle: (PDF) Child protection; The current Initiatives. Tanzania case. | Norberth Kelvin - Academia.edu

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Wie sollen internationale NGOs FGM begegnen?

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Wie sollen internationale NGOs FGM begegnen?

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Was können internationale NGOs tun, um FGM entgegen zu wirken? Wo seht ihr Schwierigkeiten? Welche Vor- und Nachteile seht ihr darin, dass internationale NGOs vor Ort eingreifen?

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"It was like I was half dead." That is how Joyce recalls the moment she was cut. "I cried a lot when I saw the blood."

At 14-years-old, Joyce underwent Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) - a practice which violates a girl's human rights and which can have serious long-term health implications.

FGM comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the genital organs for non-medical reasons, and is mostly carried out between infancy and age 15.

A pre-cursor to child marriage

After she was cut, Joyce was forced into marriage. "Once a girl is circumcised, the community assumes that she is ready for marriage even if she is under 18," she explains. "I realised what I had lost as I watched my friends continue with their studies as I suffered in my marriage."

Her story is echoed by Nyamburi, who was also married when she was just 14. "After FGM, you must get married as it proves that you're a woman and you can take care of a family," she says. "I was forced to quit school and take care of the husband that had been chosen for me," Nyamburi adds.

Joyce and Nyamburi are from Tanzania's Mara region, where the prevalence of FGM and child marriage is much higher than the national average - around 40% of girls undergo FGM, while the rate of child marriage is 54%. With the support of the European Commission and in partnership with the Children's Dignity Forum, Plan International has been working to eliminate the practice in high-risk communities.

Changing mindsets as peer educators

Starting in March 2015, the project set out to empower girls and communities to say no to these harmful practices. Joyce and Nyamburi are now committed to making change as peer educators.

"I'd say that FGM is like a slow poison killer. But people now understand the effect of FGM as we go around educating them," says Joyce. "Saving girls from FGM means saving them from child marriage and enables them to achieve their educational dreams."

"It is a tough job but slowly we are getting there," adds Nyamburi.

From blades to flour: engaging local leaders

The project targeted young women and men between the ages of 10 and 24 years, as well as community leaders, religious leaders, teachers, parents and caregivers. As one respected local leader, Mwita Nyasibora, explains, there has been a shift in mindset among his community and in the region at large.

Today, instead of forcing girls to undergo genital mutilation, leaders dab flour on the girls' faces as a symbolic transformation from childhood to adulthood.

"I am sure FGM will be abolished," says Mr Nyasibora.

Nyamburi, too, is determined to see the end of the practice. "Frankly speaking, I don't want my children to be cut, nor anybody else in my community," she says.

Find out more:

7 reasons to #ENDFGM

#FGM: Activists and Survivors speak out

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Tanzania: Fighting FGM and Child Marriage

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"It was like I was half dead." That is how Joyce recalls the moment she was cut. "I cried a lot when I saw the blood." At 14-years-old, Joyce underwent Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) - a practice which violates a girl's human rights and which can have serious long-term health implications.

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Welche Rollen spielen Politik und Gesellschaft bei der Beendigung FGM?

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Welche Rollen spielen Politik und Gesellschaft bei der Beendigung FGM?

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Welche politischen und gesellschaftlichen Veränderungen sind notwendig, um FGM gewinnbringend entgegen zu wirken? Ist es überhaupt möglich, FGM zu beenden? Wo seht ihr Chancen, wo Schwierigkeiten?

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The WHO estimates that more than 200 million women and girls across the world have experienced female genital mutilation (FGM). The culturally entrenched practice holds no benefits for girls and women. In fact, FGM puts girls and women at risk of severe health complications. Despite constituting an international human rights violation, in countries such as Tanzania, cases of FGM persist. The government of Tanzania, individuals and organizations aim to address incidents of female genital mutilation in Tanzania.

Female Genital Mutilation in Tanzania

In the year 1998, female genital mutilation became illegal in Tanzania through the Sexual Offences Special Provisions Act. However, the legislation only criminalized the act for women younger than 18. Law enforcement officials intervened in rituals where young girls received their rite of passage through mutilation. The country hopes to end all harmful actions against women and children by 2030. This includes FGM practices.

A few issues surrounding the prosecution of FGM cases include victims refusing to testify against the perpetrators, especially if they are family members. Additionally, bribery by perpetrators is common to avoid prosecution. Inadequate evidence and "witnesses failing to appear in court" also contribute to low prosecution rates.

At times, "community leaders pretend to abandon the practice then organize alternative rite of passage festivals for girls only to continue with female genital mutilation in disguise." Despite these barriers, Tanzania has seen a decrease in mutilations from 18% in 1996 to around 10% in 2021.

Recommendations From WHO

According to the World Health Organization, nine out of 10 Tanzanian women are against FGM practices. Because the practice is culturally entrenched, it is more difficult to completely abolish. The WHO recommends raising awareness about FGM in order to communicate the dangers the practice holds for girls and women. Furthermore, health professionals should be trained to "manage and prevent" cases on FGM. Furthermore, law enforcement needs to be better supported in order to ensure cases are investigated and prosecuted.

Solutions to FGM in Tanzania

Tanzania has developed a national strategy to address FGM in the country. The strategy launched on March 15, 2021, and will run for four years. The strategy involves "running campaigns on the health consequences of FGM for girls and women, recruitment of change agents from within the communities and the enforcement of legal mechanisms." Though FGM rates in Tanzania have reduced to 10%, the fight to abolish the practice continues.

Men in the community have also joined the fight to end FGM. Chief Girihuida Gegasa Shulumbu is a traditional leader in the Mara village of Tanzania. As a father of three daughters, Shulumbu works with other male leaders to end the practice and find "alternative rites of passage." Shulumbu recognizes that FGM impacts the most impoverished people and impacts education by keeping girls out of school due to recovery time and health complications that may ensue.

A lack of education keeps women in poverty, economically impacting Tanzania as a whole. Due to individual efforts and efforts from organizations, in the past three years, 96 ritual leaders have stopped FGM practices in Mara. Furthermore, more than 1,500 girls between 9 and 19 were protected from FGM practices through campaigns and programs.

Efforts to decrease female genital mutilation in Tanzania have proven successful. Although the fight continues, there is much promise that the practice may be eliminated by 2030.

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Female Genital Mutilation in Tanzania - The Borgen Project

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The WHO estimates that more than 200 million women and girls across the world have experienced female genital mutilation (FGM). The culturally entrenched practice holds no benefits for girls and women. In fact, FGM puts girls and women at risk of severe health complications.