1. FGM RESEARCH
Approaches to combatting FGM

2. DEFINITION
• FGM refers to all procedures involving partial or total removal
of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female
genital organs for cultural or other non-medical reasons.
• Some organizations have opted to use the more neutral term
of “female genital cutting (FGC) to avoid demeaning
communities and causing backlash.

3. SCOPE OF ISSUE IN AFRICA
• WHO estimates that 91.5 million
girls and women in Africa are
currently living with the
consequences of FGM.
• Eighteen countries ,including
Kenya and Tanzania, have enacted
laws criminalizing FGM
• On December 20, 2012, the UN
General Assembly unanimously
passed a resolution formally
banning the practice of FGM.

4. CASE STUDY: KENYA
FGM in Kenya is far more prevalent
among certain ethic groups (nearly
universal among Somali/Kisii-98%)

5. APPROACHES TO COMBAT FGM
Criminalization Grassroots
• Laws alone unlikely to change • Community based programs
traditions. To have a that work “bottom-up” to
sustainable impact on the combat FGM locally. Shown to
prevalence of FGM, laws must be most effective
be complemented by
multifaceted programs at the • CBO’s can mobilize
community level communities to publically
renounce FGM
• Uses human rights and UN
laws

6. CRIMINALIZATION APPROACH
• John Hendra (UN Women) states: “…while efforts to criminalize
FGM are vital, they need to be backed up with services for
victims, engaging key influencers and supporting community-
based activities to change social norms…”
• Steps to eliminate FGM: laws criminalizing FGM, education
and outreach programs, and the use of civil remedies and
administrative regulations to prevent the practice (Center for
Reproductive Rights)

7. THE FULDA-MOSOCHO PROJECT (GRASSROOTS
APPROACH)
• Mosocho, Kenya: Goal is to achieve sustainable and extensive
improvement of quality of life – comprehensive abandonment of
female genital mutilation
• Identifies and trains community leaders to participate in program that
runs 3 ½ years; trained leaders then organize community meetings
(studied extensively by UNICEF Innocenti Research Center, 2010,
labeled highly successful after 5 year study)
• Outcomes: 16, 000 girls have been saved from mutilation
(communities denouncing FGC), 100 female circumcisers decided to
no longer continue and became advocates against FGC,
Non-SFF Partner Approach

8. ORCHID PROJECT (GRASSROOTS APPROACH)
• Senegal/Somalia : Partner with organizations and projects to accelerate the
abandonment of FGM.
• In November 2012, Orchid began a new project with Tostan supporting their
social mobilization activities in southern and northern Senegal until the end of
October 2013. They are assisting with coordinating Tostan’s post-exit model.
To achieve this goal, Orchid communicates best practices and experiences of
success between grassroots organizations
• Outcomes: Currently, outcomes are in the process of being measured. Orchid
is focusing on shadowing social mobilization efforts in the Fouta with Tostan.
Contact the Orchid Project directly through their website at: http://orchidproject.org/ (please
not that the Orchid Project is not a SFF Partner)
Non-SFF Partner Approach

9. KISTREACH THEATRE INTERNATIONAL
(GRASSROOTS APPROACH)
• Kenya: Mission is to stop all types of violence against women,
children, people living with disability, youth and other
vulnerable groups
• Kistreach disseminates information to communities through
skits, puppets, dance, and song, story-telling
(media/grassroots approach)
• Outcomes: 475 girls, and their families, who have denounced
FGM. These girls then become “Kistrech Junior Girls” and
play roles in influencing others to denounce (similar to Tostan
idea of “organized diffusion”)
Non-SFF Partner Approach

10. TOSTAN (GRASSROOTS APPROACH)
• Senegal: Tostan is “dedicated to empowering African communities to bring
about sustainable development and positive social transformation based on
respect for human rights”
• Tostan uses an inclusive holistic, human rights-based education program, the
Community Empowerment Program (CEP) Please see next slide for details
• Outcome of process: 6,000 villages agreeing to abandon FGM, communities
are organized, empowered, and active in their own development. Tostan is in
the process of building a training center to share their successful model with
others NGOs.
You can reach our Partner Tostan through SFF, or their website at
http://www.tostan.org/http://www.tostan.org/
SFF Partner

11. TOSTAN’S COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT
PROGRAM
Human rights based
education classes Participants empowered with
Assign a trained are held knowledge and lead
facilitator to the • Adults and community dialogue
village for 3 years adolescents • Also learn to select, Community
that is fluent in separated to implement, and manage Management
the local encourage an small projects Committee also
language and of open atmosphere established
the same ethnic • development of new skills
• Draw on modern that lead to improved living • Responsible for
group as the education implementing
community conditions
techniques as well development
members as traditional projects
African oral designed by
traditions community

12. PARTNER FEEDBACK