25 YEARS OF IAC’S ACTION

MILLIONS OF GIRLS SAVED FROM BRUTAL GENITAL MUTILATIONS

ELISABETH WILSON

What is this organization, how did you make a difference throughout the years?
The Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (IAC) is a non-governmental organization created in 1984 in Senegal. It seeks to change social values and raise consciousness towards eliminating FGM and other traditional practices which affect the health of women and children in Africa. Two to three million girls are threatened each year by this practice. In Ethiopia, when IAC started, the prevalence of girls being cut was 80%. This figure has gone down to 56%. The lack of education and the patriarchal system keeps them ignorant of their basic rights. Not knowing what the religion says or does not say about their body adds to the problem. We can change this with the religious leaders’ help, by explaining to them that FGM is an interference with the way God created our bodies.

Please summarize the most widespread Female Genital Mutilations
The girls’ clitoris can be cut, as well as their inner and outer labia, the vagina can be sewed and left with a small hole the size of a match. These practices are done partially or all together. FGM type IV covers other very harmful procedures performed for non-medical purposes: pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterisation all this without anaesthesia. The consequences are extensive: damage of the uterus, vaginal and pelvic infections, cysts, increased risks during pregnancy, child birth, difficulties in menstruation or urinating, fistulas, HIV-AIDS, tetanus, infertility, mental health issues. I cannot tell you all the pain and psychological suffering these women go through because of this madness. But, midwives or men who perpetuate these harmful traditional practices do not know that it is not practiced in most of the world. Besides, excisers and girls often don’t relate their genital problems with their brutal cutting, they have no point of comparison.¹

Feb 5 and 6 will be the IAC’s 25th anniversary. Any activities here in Geneva?
Yes a quarter of a century of action! February 6th is also the International Day of Zero Tolerance to FGM. It is a UN-sponsored awareness day that is celebrated worldwide. For Geneva, we co-organized seminars with the IPU, IOM and the State of Geneva. There will be also an exhibition at the Geneva Museum of Ethnography. With respect, the public will be able to approach the real and gruesome instruments with which thousand of girls have been cut. Seeing is believing. The public will also be able to comprehend how we mobilize women and men. Also, a free booklet with inspiring testimonies will be available for all. This is a powerful communication tool done by one of our new NGO partners in the Netherlands.²

Is it a fair statement to say that there is a prevalence of FGM in Muslim countries?
Many Muslim countries are affected: Egypt, Somalia, but in countries like Ethiopia where Muslims and Christians live, FGM is performed by both. You can track FGM amongst the Muslim and the Christian communities in Africa. There is a correlation between the Muslim communities and the practice. However, it has nothing to do with religion. Many women in these countries believe that it is a religious obligation. This is pure ignorance about the true teachings of religion and the holy books (Coran and Bible). For example in Saudi Arabia it does not exist. Women are not excised in the holy land of the Muslims. Culture does rhyme with torture.

Why should this brutal and gruesome practice concern us?
Even migrating populations practice it, because they internalise traditions such as FGM. They go to new countries where everything is possible, perform FGM there or send their daughters back home to have it done. It has become a worldwide problem that has occurred in Canada, United States, New-Zealand, Australia, Europe, even here in Switzerland. FGM can also be medicalised. We vigorously condemn that! It is unethical to practice FGM surgically. In Africa it is sometimes done in private clinics, using hygienic instruments. Educated health professionals cannot cut a healthy part of a human body for no medical reason. The only incentive is the money they can get from performing it. We humanitarians are all concerned!

What are the roles of the media and of the men in general?
The media have not been attracted by this problem, specially the African media because for most of them it is normal. But after twenty-five years of action, the IAC has changed the trend by working with them. It is their duty to talk about FGM and to educate the public. The collaboration of traditional and modern media with the help of international media is extremely important. Change is possible, if properly strategized and monitored with the participation of all key leaders. Based on my experience, it is easier to convince men to say NO to FGM than the women. If we could have male policy makers, doctors, religious leaders and all our men involved, then the women would have the confidence to say NO to FGM. Our governments should also target simultaneously young boys and girls via primary education.

Couldn’t you launch an association of Men against FGM. The first member could be your own husband and our world leader Barrack Obama himself! You already have a slogan for your next campaign: Yes we can say NO! Thank you for putting my husband at the same level as Mr. Obama (modest laughter). It is true, my husband has always been supportive of my action from the very beginning, and he would be more than happy to join a men’s club, a world association of men fighting against FGM. I also think that Mr. Obama (who has Kenyan origins) has the charisma and humanitarian attitude to uphold such a poignant cause. I am sure he will not be indifferent. Thank you very much for this idea!

What can countries and active donors do to totally eradicate FGM by 2015?
Donating countries should realize that traditional practices killing women, young girls and babies need to be stopped. The abolition of FGM should be the condition subordinated to their donations. They should only support governments or organizations that are banning this practice. Each program should educate the public against FGM. We also need strong health policies and actions. There is a need for a serious commitment on the part of countries such as Canada, the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, etc. I suggest they develop a common strategy as donors. We can’t advocate about education, primary health care, maternal health and women’s rights with gruesome practices like FGM still existing. We should advocate for the eradication of FGM as the Number One Objective of the MDGs. But, the UN agenda cannot be changed that easily. It can only be completed: The total eradication of FGM is indeed an achievable goal. Let’s make the Eradication of FGM the 9th MDG!

¹ See also: www.iac-ciaf.net
² See also: www.stm-stopfgm.org