JUST/2014/RDAP/AG/HARM/8001 After Project

Against FGM/C Through Empowerment and Rejection

Champions for Change (C4C)

The AFTER Project The AFTER (Against Female Genital Mutilation through Empowerment and Rejection) project is a EU-funded Project that is working to raise awareness around the problem of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C). The major partners for the AFTER Project are Ireland, Italy and Spain (major partners). Sweden and Belgium are also partnering in the AFTER Project but they are not implementing projects at community level.

Objectives of the AFTER Project ü To fight FGM/C among migrant communities who are from countries where

FGM/C is an accepted cultural norm

ü To increase awareness among local policy makers about the existing risk for migrant women and girls, and how we can overcome these risks. Together, these objectives will contribute to a reduction in the number of girls at risk of undergoing FGM/C in migrant communities in Europe.

Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C) refers to “all procedures which involve partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for cultural and other non-therapeutic reasons”.1 FGM/C is a reflection of the deep rooted inequalities between men and women, and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against girls and women. FGM/C stands out as a distinct form of violence against girls and women, and is a violation of girls’ and women’s basic human rights to life, dignity, and health. In regions where FGM/C is the norm, it is performed for cultural reasons mostly associated with purity and chastity. It is important to note that there are no religious basis for carrying out FGM/C on women and girls. There are four major types of FGM/C:

• Type I or clitoridectomy: it is the partial or total removal of the clitoris;

• Type II or excision: it is the partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora;

• Type III or infibulation: labia majora are cut causing a narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal. Only a small opening is preserved for urine and menstrual flow. Vagina is preserved so virginity of the woman is guaranteed. Later, this

1WHO,‘EliminatingFemaleGenitalMutilation’,1.

type of mutilation sometimes requires the practice of de-infibulation, in which the area is again cut open to allow for sexual intercourse and childbirth;

• Type IV: this includes all other harmful procedures such as pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterizing the genital area of the woman.

FGM/C and Culture Some organizations prefer to use the term “modification” to avoid the risk of demonising the culture of the people who practice FGM. The general feeling is that this term is less judgemental. Excision and circumcision are other terms which are used by the communities when referring to the practice of FGM/C. The terms excision and cutting serve the purpose of portraying normalcy around the practice of FGM/C in those communities. Why FGM/C and not FGM? The term Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting is used by the United Nations (especially the World Health Organisation – WHO) and other organisations such as ActionAid which have a strong human rights focus. This helps to emphasise the severity and violent nature of the practice. It also goes a long way in highlighting FGM/C as not only a women’s right issue but also a severe human rights violation. The term FGM/C is the preferred terminology for organisations working on health and human rights issues. FGM/C is also categorised as a harmful traditional practice. We add the ‘C’ for Cutting so as not to offend practicing communities especially when one is working closely with them. It is often felt that the term ‘mutilation’ is judgemental and should be avoided when working with affected communities. Mutilation can be used when there is acceptance by members of the affected communities that the practice of FGM is a harmful traditional practice. Use of terms such as ‘mutilation’ can have the adverse effect of closing off participation from the affected community.

Champions for Change Champions for Change are policy makers, decision makers, and everyday people who are willing to speak out against FGM/C.

Champions for Change will be key in supporting community change and will be the link between implementing organisations and the community. Why Champions for Change? Champions for Change will be crucial in spearheading FGM/C work in countries where the AFTER project is being implemented, as they will serve as the link between the community and the project implementers. Champions will

ü educate communities about what FGM/C is ü who is at risk ü what the consequences of FGM/C are ü how to prevent young girls from undergoing the practice ü how to support women and girls already affected by FGM/C

The project aims to raise awareness around the need for empathy and understanding for women who are victims/survivors of this practice, and it is hoped that this will have a positive impact on affected groups’ integration into European communities. This increase in awareness will also ensure that migrant women, particularly those from FGM/C practicing communities, will be better served in hospitals as their Sexual and Reproductive health (SRH) needs will be better understood. TheChampionsforChangeNetworkwillbecomposedofactivistsandendorserswhowillbechargedwiththefollowingresponsibilitieswhichincludedrivingthepolicyasksintherespectivecountrieswheretheAFTERProjectisbeingimplemented:

LobbyingandCampaigningActivities:Local,nationalandEuropeaninstitutionswillhaveincreasedknowledgeoneffectivestrategiestopreventFGM/Cthroughcommunitybasedactivitiesandwillbeintheforefrontofadvocatingforpolicychange.

ParticipatinginEmpowermentPathsTrainingTheChampionsforChangewillbeexpectedtoparticipateinEPtrainings.ThiswillhelpinlinkingtheChampionswiththetrainingtakingplaceinthecountrieswheretheAFTERprojectisbeingimplementedtofeedthehorizontalobjectiveoftheirworkwhichinvolvescreatinglinkageswithpeoplefromcommunitiesaffectedbyFGM/C.

ParticipateinTestimonyToursThepresenceofChampionsduringtheTestimonyTourswillbeinstrumentalduringandwillfeedintohorizontalandverticalrelationshipsoftheworkoftheChampions.

Link:Serveasalinkbetweenthecommunityandserviceproviders,reachingtothegovernmentandcreatingawarenessaboutthepracticeofFGM/C,whatneedstobedonetoeradicatethepracticeandmoreimportantly,campaigningtoringfencefundingtocarryoutFGMrelatedworkintherespectiveEuropeancountrieswheretheAFTERprojectisbeingimplemented.RingfencingoffundswillgoalongwayindemonstratingthecommitmentofgovernmentsandinstitutionstoendFGM/C.FundingwillalsocreateamuchneededsustainablebaseforfutureworkonFGM/CbeyondthelifeoftheAFTERproject.

Participatinginlocalinformativeevents.ThelocalinformativeeventsarekeytothesuccessoftheAFTERProject.Theseevents,takingplaceincountrieswheretheAFTERprojectisbeingimplementedarealsogearedtowardscreatingawarenesstothepublicaboutFGM/CtoincreasesupportforwomenwhoareaffectedbythepracticeandalsotoofferincreasedprotectionforgirlswhomightbeatriskofFGM/C

Supporters:TheChampionsarealsogoingtoplayasupportiveroletotheAFTERprojectworkersandthecommunity,toconnectthemtosupportservicesforwomenandgirlssuchasmedicalcare,psychosocialsupportandtraumacounsellingetc.

Lobbying:TolobbygovernmenttosupportFGM/CworkbyrecognisingFGM/Casahumanrightsviolation,passingrelevantlawsandspellingclearpenaltiesforperpetratorsofFGM/C.InadditiontheChampionsforChangewillalsobechargedwiththeresponsibilityofreconcilingmajorhumanrightsinstrumentswiththelocallawsofthecountrieswheretheAFTERProjectisbeingimplementedandtoensurethatthelawsworkforwomenfleeingtheircountriesbecauseofthreatsofFGMortoofferthosewomenandgirlswhohavealreadybeensubjectedtoFGM/Cprotection.Again,theinternationaldatesabovecanbeusedtocreateawarenessonsomeoftheinternationalhumanrightsinstrumentswhichspeakdirectlytotherightsofwomenandchildrenaffectedbyFGM/Corarelikelytobeaffected(atriskof)byFGM/C.

Coordination:TheChampionsarealsochargedwiththeresponsibilityofensuringandcoordinatingthevariousserviceswhichcaterforwomen’shealthandwomen’sreproductivehealthinparticulartoensurethatFGM/Cisstreamlined.Moreimportantly,theChampions

willbeinforefrontofcampaigningandlobbyinggovernmentstoseetoitthatsuchserviceprovidersareequippedwithknowledgeonFGM/C.

Referral:TorecommendadditionalassistanceforwomenaffectedbyFGM/C.AlsotodofollowuponFGMrelatedcaseswhichhavebeencommittedandtakenbeforethecourtsorarewiththepolice.

Creatinglinkages:IdentificationofopportunitieswhichtheAFTERimplementingcountrieswillutilisetoachievemoreimpact.Throughregularmeetingsandtrainings,thechampionswillbegivenaleewaytopointoutgapsintheapproachestoaddressingFGM/Cinandhowprojectworkerscanimproveontheirworkwithaffectedcommunities.

Bethe‘Voice’:ThemostimportantroletheChampionsofChangewillplaywillbetokeepthetopicofFGM/Caliveandtoensurethatthispracticeiseradicated.ThiswillbeachievedbyusingtheirvoiceateveryopportunityavailabletospeakagainstthepracticeofFGM/C.

Champions for Change working relationships:

Horizontally, the C4C will be participating in community events such as empowerment paths and testimony tours, which will bring the impact of the AFTER project to the affected communities. Vertically, the C4C will be campaigning and lobbying governments/institutions to criminalise FGM/C and support anti-FGM/C work, thus making their impact felt at the highest possible political levels.