Abandon Female Genital Mutilation & Empower Families

Background

UNDP has been combatting FGM through its programmes/projects since 2003, in collaboration with Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), through the National Population Council (NPC). Building on its previous efforts, in 2009 a second phase titled the FGM Abandonment and Family Empowerment Joint Programme (JP) was signed with aim of creating sustainable political, legal and social change to empower families and communities to abandon FGM practices along with other forms of family/domestic violence. The JP work comprised 170 villages in 15 different governorates. The JP also worked closely with 20 focal NGOs that are responsible for creating civil society synergies at the lower levels with the community development associations that enable larger organizations to implement their programs at village level.

Accomplishments

The project produced a video, which entails the success and accomplishments of the project over the years.
The 2016-2020 National FGM Abandonment Strategy continues to highlight the Egyptian government’s commitment to fighting FGM as a matter of national priority, while recognizing the negative effects of this practice on society and people. The strategy also acts as the main framework for all implementation endeavors.
The DHS 2014 shows a decline in prevalence in the age group (15-17 years old) by more than 13% compared to the 2008 EDHS. The DHS 2014 shows significant change in mothers’ attitudes, since from a total of 92% circumcised mothers only 35% of them intend to circumcise their daughters. This shows that there is a shift in the mind-sets.
The FGM criminalizing law was amend and stiffened up to a rigorous imprisonment of 5-7 years, instead of the previous sentence that ranged from 3 months to 3 years, in addition to transforming the crime from a misdemeanor to a felony. The punishment could also lead up to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment, if the crime led to permanent disability or death. Accomplices also face from one year to three years’ imprisonment.
On 3^rd February 2017, the ‘Doctors Say No to FGM’ initiative that aims to combat the medicalization of FGM was launched. In the same vein, a training of trainers was organized for 85 doctors of the preventive sector on FGM messages to disseminate in awareness plans for vaccines campaigns.
A Task Force was established to issue and develop a legal brief for District Attorneys, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health and Population and Doctors’ Syndicate confirming actions required by concerned stakeholders to implement and accelerate action regarding FGM criminalization Law, as well as the Legal Task Force that produced recommendations for partners pertaining to operational actions and mechanisms required to effectuate the new FGM law.
In 2016, Dar Al-Ifta renewed its commitment towards the elimination of FGM through issuing a fatwa (Islamic religious ruling) and by reiterating that FGM is neither legitimate nor medical, while adding that FGM violates the Islamic Sharia, the law and the Constitution.
A media awareness campaign “Enough FGM” was launched with testimonials from people who were denouncing the FGM practice –shows a change in mind-sets over the past 10 years, and how will be important to see how such advocacy efforts can be sustained in the future.
The campaign was also launched recently on several news portals, amassing the total of 20 million viewership.
In 2015, Egypt witnessed a new milestone in the fight against FGM when the first doctor to be convicted of FGM was sentenced. Throughout the period of 2016-2017, 6 criminal cases of FGM were referred to the public prosecution. But clearly, more needs to done to ensure that more FGM cases are being reported and prosecuted.
Thanks to joint collaborative efforts by the UN family, the NPC and the Ministry of Health, along with the Prosecution office, magnificent awareness endeavors pertaining to the FGM penal code led to further law enforcement.
The Ministry of Higher Education mainstreamed an anti-FGM component in medical schools, social service institute curriculums and teacher’s colleges, as well as that of the Ministry of Education for incorporating FGM Abandonment, Anti-Violence and family rights messages in Primary and Secondary School Curriculum.