FEMALE GENITAL

MUTILATION/CIRCUMCISION IN
ETHIOPIA
By: Mimo Haile
FGM/C IS CLASSIFIED INTO FOUR TYPES:
Type I Partial or total removal of the clitoris and/or the prepuce
(clitoridectomy).
Type II Partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, with or
without excision of the labia majora (excision).
Type III Narrowing of the vaginal orifice with creation of a covering seal
by cutting and apositioning the labia minora and/or the labia majora, with
or without excision of the clitoris (infibulation).
Type IV All other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-
medical purposes, for example, pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and
cauterization.
HEALTH RISKS AND COMPLICATIONS
Even though it may not be perceived as such, FGM/C is
a form of gender inequality that remains deeply
engrained in the social and economic structures of the
countries and communities where it is practiced. It
represents societys control over women and young
girls.
SOCIAL NORM
Girls are cut as a prerequisite for
marriage, families believe that
girls must be cut as a condition of
marriage as best choice to
ensure a good future.
Large percentage of women and
men are unaware of what the
opposite sex thinks about FGM/C
ETHIOPIA
The National Committee on
Traditional Practices in Ethiopia
listed 88 practices, as
harmful, including FGM/C,
domestic violence tolerated
and accepted, bride abduction
men claim a wife by
kidnapping and raping her;
after the rape she must marry
the rapist to avoid disgrace
and preserve her familys
honor.
Figure 2. Adapted by the Statistics and Monitoring Section,
Division of Policy and Practice in Ethiopia
ICRW + GIRLS NOT BRIDES
In Kembata-Tembaro region,
the practice is called cutting
off the dirt -- to keep girl from
promiscuity, ruin, and any
sexual sensation.
In my village in Ethiopia, we
were told that female
circumcision was God's will, as
spelled out in the Bible and the
Koran. Some said that if a
clitoris touched a baby's head
during childbirth, the child
would die. Bogalech
INTERVENTION TO FOLLOW
Kemabtti Mentti Gezzimma-Tope (later re-named KMG
Ethiopia) is an organization that was established in 1997 to
dismantle the myths that existed with the need of FGM/C in the
villages.
Anti-FGM/C conversation was facilitated by the community to
the community and this model was used to mobilize and
engage individuals, families and community leaders.
WHAT WORKED?
Providing information to increase knowledge about FGM/C
so that communities can consider non-cutting as an
alternative.
a.Engaging communities in an open discussion
b.Raising awareness by training women and girls to the
spread the message to the elders, mothers, religious
leaders and circumcisers.
c.Focusing on practical results to build trust in the
community to increase awareness about other issues i.e.
HIV/AIDS awareness.
These dialogues took place as part of the daily life routines,
such as during coffee-drinking or while they are walking the
cattle to graze.
Mobilizing and organizing social forces through Community
Conversation Program
a.Expanded community discussions by zone of the district
b.Increased conversation about human rights,
reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, and Harmful Traditional
Practices where community members become the
watch-dogs
c.Shed light on community needs and topics
highlighting the importance of community voice.
Creating public pressure to abandon FGM/C
a.Celebrated and rallied Anti-AIDS day and
Uncircumcised Day
b.Promoting and celebrating public weddings for
uncircumcised girls
c.Opened a legal clinic for women who are victims
of violence.
Enforcing abandonment
a.Involvement of sub-district and district
administration/declaration
b.Criminalization of FGM/C practice and
abduction
MORE IMPLICATION FOR CHANGE
Applying this method in all communities of Ethiopia
Increasing funding to organization like KMG to decrease
harmful practices in Ethiopia
Promote more support for girls and women who have
experienced FGM/C
Increase midwives that specialize in dealing with FGM/C
patients in labor wards
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ZERO TOLERANCE TO FEMALE
GENITAL MUTILATION/CUTTING (FGM/C) FEB 6
TH