The state of FGM in Sweden todayThe state of FGM in Sweden today

• How is the work against FGM organised?

• What happens in Sweden today with FGM?

• What kind of research is going on?

• Challenges for FGM in Sweden todayOwolabi Bjälkander

UtredareIndivid- och Familjeenheten

Owolabi.bjalkander@socialstyrelsen.seArbete: 075 247 3727Mobil: 0732 00 75 34

My backgroundMy background

• Owolabi Bjälkander, Sierra Leone, West Africa

• Swedish National Action Plan against FGM (2003 – 2005)

• Follow Up Activity – June 2008 – Sept 2009

• Technical Consultant for EURONET

• PhD Candidate at Karolinska Institutet

Overview of FGM in SwedenOverview of FGM in Sweden

Law ( 1928; 1999)

Government implementation by Socialstyrelsen

Prosecutions and jail sentences: 1 father, 1 mother

RISK – state recognised FGM NGO

Prevalence 16,000 (2002); ≈ 20,000 (2008)

Follow Up Activity by Socialstyrelsen

FGM work in SwedenFGM work in Swedenpre National Action Plan (NAP)pre National Action Plan (NAP)

• (Somali) Immigrants in Sweden 1990s – Type III

• 1993 – 1996 - Göteborg’s Immigration Section

• Socialstyrelsen sponsored

• Project “Health care and support measures for women and children – the prevention of FGM”

• Goal of project – to prevent FGM and provide care

Pre NAP ActivitiesPre NAP Activities

• 1998 – 2001 Government Assignment to Socialstyrelsen

• Goals of the project were to– use methods from Göteborg project to prevent FGM

• Other players - kommuner, länsstyrelser, Folkhälsoinstitutet & Integrationsverket

1998 – 2001 Project Outcomes1998 – 2001 Project Outcomes

•FGM justified by community using religious reasons•(Lack of clear statements from (affected African) religious leaders against practice)

•Need to inform influential, recognised community leaders about FGM •Need for educational and information material on FGM

•2002 - National Conference on Prevention •(Minister for Children and the Family from Norway attended amongst others )

IDIL ProjectIDIL Project

•Implemented by RISK

•Trained women from Somalia, Ethiopia & Eritrea on FGM legislation, care & support

•Women talk about FGM in own language to own people

•Project funded by Socialstyrelsen

National Action Plan against FGM 2003 – 2005National Action Plan against FGM 2003 – 2005

Goal - eliminate FGM in Sweden

Disseminate information and knowledge

Increase skills & develop competence

Booklet “FGM of Women” in Arabic, English, Amharic, Somali, Tigranya, Swedish

Material developed for Police & Prosecution Service

Personnel in schools, social services, health care

Implemented by Socialstyrelsen

Other NAP ActivitiesOther NAP Activities

• Knowledge Bank of Best Practices

• Regional Conferences

• Work with Religious Leaders

• Trip to the Horn of Africa

FGM in Sweden todayFGM in Sweden today

• Local national action plans (3)

• Frustration by activists – less interest in FGM• State authorities’ role in preventive work • (Migrationsverket, Skolverket, Familjecentralen)

• Care - one clinic in all of Sweden

• Prevention - children and young people – not happening yet

FGM in Sweden todayFGM in Sweden today

• Asylum on FGM grounds – Dec 2008

• Certificate of FGM status by health care services

• Expectations of FGM community on Socialstyrelsen

• FGM in Kurdish communities in Sweden

• Socialstyrelsen’s follow up activity of National Action Plan

Follow Up Activities of the National Action PlanFollow Up Activities of the National Action Plan

• Updating the Knowledge Bank

• Religious Leaders – Declaration

• International developments on FGM and Sweden

• European level work – Nordic countries initiative

• Swedish National Network against FGM

Research on FGM in SwedenResearch on FGM in Sweden

• Urinary leakage and complications of FGM amongst Somali Girls – Nina Ismail (1999)

• Sexuality and FGM in Sweden – Sara Johnsdotter• (http://www.mah.se/templates/Page____15522.aspx)

• Female genital mutilation among antenatal care and contraceptive advice attendees in Sweden – Lars Almroth, Martina Francke, Helena Litorp (2008)

• The politics of genital modifications – Sara Johnsdotter, Birgitta Essen (2009 – 2011)

• Being Pregnant in Sweden – Circumcised African Women’s Meeting with the Swedish Maternity Care – Liselott Dellenborg (2009)

• (http://www.globalstudies.gu.se/anthropology/om_oss/personal/dellenborg/)

Challenges facing FGM in Sweden todayChallenges facing FGM in Sweden today

• Work to prevent FGM

• Engagement with practising communities for prevention

• Continual training for key professional groups

• Integrating FGM - into VAW and children

• Reaching young people – inform and empower girls to refuse