The Struggle Against FGM – CESIE from Italy
The
following is my interview with Soad Ibrahim of the Italian association CESIE
which is engaged in opposing the brutal phenomenon of FGM.
following is my interview with Soad Ibrahim of the Italian association CESIE
which is engaged in opposing the brutal phenomenon of FGM.
Milena Rampoldi: Which are the best
strategies for opposing and ending FGM?
strategies for opposing and ending FGM?
Soad Ibrahim: It is difficult to generalise
about which would be the best strategies to fight FGM. As far as project
REPLACE 2 is concerned — financed by the European Commission under the program Daphne —
the implemented strategy consists of directly involving members of the local
communities, by trying to create an increased sense of belonging to the
community, and by promoting the sharing of information about the practice. This
contributes to the development of increased awareness about the reasons and
effects of this practice. In addition, after a long research step, the project
has envisaged interventions in all partner countries. These measures were
developed ad hoc for the involved community in order to find a way of ending
FGM internally, starting from the involved communities.
about which would be the best strategies to fight FGM. As far as project
REPLACE 2 is concerned — financed by the European Commission under the program Daphne —
the implemented strategy consists of directly involving members of the local
communities, by trying to create an increased sense of belonging to the
community, and by promoting the sharing of information about the practice. This
contributes to the development of increased awareness about the reasons and
effects of this practice. In addition, after a long research step, the project
has envisaged interventions in all partner countries. These measures were
developed ad hoc for the involved community in order to find a way of ending
FGM internally, starting from the involved communities.
What are the mistaken prejudices preventing the eradication of the
practice?
practice?
In various cultures practicing FGM,
the main prejudice is related to the status of an uncircumcised woman. People
think that an uncircumcised woman is destined to live an unchaste life from a
sexual point of view which would prevent her from finding a husband so as to
meet the socially approved status within her society. This prejudice is the
reason why very often women themselves want to perpetuate the practice to avoid
social marginalisation.
the main prejudice is related to the status of an uncircumcised woman. People
think that an uncircumcised woman is destined to live an unchaste life from a
sexual point of view which would prevent her from finding a husband so as to
meet the socially approved status within her society. This prejudice is the
reason why very often women themselves want to perpetuate the practice to avoid
social marginalisation.
On the other hand, there are
prejudices about FGM in Europe where FGM is not part of the culture. Europeans
do not understand the historical and cultural motivations related to FGM. In
Europe, people often think that the practice is related to Islam and as a
consequence they think it cannot be eradicated because it is a religious
factor.
prejudices about FGM in Europe where FGM is not part of the culture. Europeans
do not understand the historical and cultural motivations related to FGM. In
Europe, people often think that the practice is related to Islam and as a
consequence they think it cannot be eradicated because it is a religious
factor.
From the experience of the project
REPLACE 2, we have learnt that mutilations are also carried out in Christian
cultures, and so to struggle against FGM we have to understand and interact
with the cultural background of the specific culture because the practice is not
related so much to the dominant religion this culture is related to.
REPLACE 2, we have learnt that mutilations are also carried out in Christian
cultures, and so to struggle against FGM we have to understand and interact
with the cultural background of the specific culture because the practice is not
related so much to the dominant religion this culture is related to.
How can FGM be opposed and eradicated in Italy?
In my opinion, what is needed most is
direct contact with involved
communities. We have to start programs to support immigrant communities
living in Italy; engage with and work for integration within
local communities; and we have to facilitate the means for c women’s
aggregation so that they can share their experiences with support on a medical
and psychological level to face up to the experience of mutilation.
direct contact with involved
communities. We have to start programs to support immigrant communities
living in Italy; engage with and work for integration within
local communities; and we have to facilitate the means for c women’s
aggregation so that they can share their experiences with support on a medical
and psychological level to face up to the experience of mutilation.
How important is information and networking among
associations for the struggle against this practice?
associations for the struggle against this practice?
Information is always fundamental, but
it is important that information is given in a sustainable way without
contributing to reinforce the pseudo-stereotypes I have mentioned before but by
reinforcing the idea that the practice is terrible but that there neither good
nor bad people perpetuating it, but simply people who are conditioned by their
culture without being aware of it. The networking among associations could be
of great importance to pave the way to stop the practice. And this will be a
way created and developed in our cities where the practice still exists among
immigrant communities living in Italy.
it is important that information is given in a sustainable way without
contributing to reinforce the pseudo-stereotypes I have mentioned before but by
reinforcing the idea that the practice is terrible but that there neither good
nor bad people perpetuating it, but simply people who are conditioned by their
culture without being aware of it. The networking among associations could be
of great importance to pave the way to stop the practice. And this will be a
way created and developed in our cities where the practice still exists among
immigrant communities living in Italy.
It
is essential to create a network of active support to promote awareness within
communities about the reasons why they practice FGM and about valid
alternatives to stop the practice when they reach Europe.
is essential to create a network of active support to promote awareness within
communities about the reasons why they practice FGM and about valid
alternatives to stop the practice when they reach Europe.
ProMosaik is convinced that no
religion prescribes this horrible practice. How can we explain to people the
difference between religion and tradition?
religion prescribes this horrible practice. How can we explain to people the
difference between religion and tradition?
There are no religions and no sacred
texts promoting FGM. We should explain that religions always focus on love and
union, and so it would be illogical to think about a religion promoting a
violent practice like female genital mutilation. Human interpretations create
deviations of any kind by perpetuating them to the point that they enter into
another field, that of tradition.
texts promoting FGM. We should explain that religions always focus on love and
union, and so it would be illogical to think about a religion promoting a
violent practice like female genital mutilation. Human interpretations create
deviations of any kind by perpetuating them to the point that they enter into
another field, that of tradition.
Tradition
is so embedded within life and the person’s perception because through it the
person finds confirmation of belonging to its group. In this context, religion
becomes secondary. Without any doubt, a clear explanation of the difference
between the two would help people to make more objective choices
is so embedded within life and the person’s perception because through it the
person finds confirmation of belonging to its group. In this context, religion
becomes secondary. Without any doubt, a clear explanation of the difference
between the two would help people to make more objective choices
What objectives have you reached and
what would you like to reach in the near future?
what would you like to reach in the near future?
We have established direct contacts
with the community involved in the project and have started targeted
interventions to promote awareness of the community members about the reasons
why this practice still exists in their own culture. Together with them, we
have discussed possible alternatives to overcome cultural conditioning and the
perpetuation of this practice. All this, helped to increase awareness in
particular amongst women. We can say that we have sowed a first seed to end
female genital mutilation.
with the community involved in the project and have started targeted
interventions to promote awareness of the community members about the reasons
why this practice still exists in their own culture. Together with them, we
have discussed possible alternatives to overcome cultural conditioning and the
perpetuation of this practice. All this, helped to increase awareness in
particular amongst women. We can say that we have sowed a first seed to end
female genital mutilation.
REPLACE 2 has been a first project
totally focussing on the matter of FGM in which CESIE has been involved.
However, there are many other CESIE projects in which the association is
engaged in the struggle against violence against women. For sure, we would like
to continue our work in close contact with the involved communities practising
FGM and other traditions where women are victims of violence. In addition, we
would like to go on being involved in projects focussing on these matters so
that we can develop a European network of associations and institutions to end
this violence as soon as possible.
totally focussing on the matter of FGM in which CESIE has been involved.
However, there are many other CESIE projects in which the association is
engaged in the struggle against violence against women. For sure, we would like
to continue our work in close contact with the involved communities practising
FGM and other traditions where women are victims of violence. In addition, we
would like to go on being involved in projects focussing on these matters so
that we can develop a European network of associations and institutions to end
this violence as soon as possible.
