Today at 12.45pm (UK time) The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), UNICEF, the UK Department for International Development (DFID) as well as representatives from Senegal, Egypt and Kenya discussed live how to end female genital cutting in a generation. The Google+ Hangout discussion took place to mark the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), also known as female genital cutting (FGC).
Participants in the discussion included Janet Tumer, a young woman from Kenya who fought back against the practice in her own community, as well as the UK Permanent Under-Secretary of State for International Development, Lynne Featherstone. It was moderated by investigative journalist at the Guardian, Maggie O'Kane.
Video of the Google+ Hangout:
Biographies of the participants:
Maggie O’Kane, investigative journalist at The Guardian
Maggie O'Kane is multimedia editor, investigations at the Guardian. She was previously the editorial director of GuardianFilms, the Emmy award winning film company which specialises in investigative films for the Guardian website and British and international TV. A former foreign correspondent with the newspaper, she has covered most of the world's major conflicts over the last decade. Her awards include British Journalist of the Year and Foreign Correspondent of the Year. She has three children and now lives in north London.
Lynne Featherstone
Lynne Featherstone was appointed International Violence Against Women Champion in November 2010 to lead the UK’s efforts to tackle violence against women overseas. She was appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development on 5 September 2012. Previously, she served as Home Office minister for equalities and criminal information.
Dr. Attef El Shittany, Rapporteur of the National Population Council Ministry in Egypt
Dr Shittany studied medicine at Alexandria University, Egypt and specialised in gynaecology and obstetrics at Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt. Having worked in the population, reproductive health and family planning sector for nearly 20 years, including at the World Bank and UNFPA, he is now Rapporteur of the National Population Council Ministry in Egypt.
The National Population Council (NPC) was established in 1985 to include the ministers of planning, social affairs, health, education, information, and international cooperation and four public figures with experience in the field of population. The NPC establishes national population policy, national population strategies, and the population component of the National Five-Year Plan; monitors contraceptive availability; coordinates population and family planning activities; conducts training activities; and performs research.
Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, UNFPA Executive Director
On 1 January 2011, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, a physician and public health expert, became only the fourth Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. He holds the rank of Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations. Before this appointment, Dr. Osotimehin was Nigeria’s Minister of Health. Prior to that, he was Director-General of Nigeria’s National Agency for the Control of AIDS, which coordinates HIV and AIDS work in a country of more than 160 million people.
Molly Melching, Founder and Director of Tostan
Tostan and Molly Melching have gained international recognition for their work with communities on the abandonment of female genital cutting (FGC) in the countries where they implement their human-rights based Community Empowerment Program. Their approach to FGC abandonment has been integrated into national and international strategies including the international Donor’s Working Group on FGM/C and ten UN agencies. To date, over 6,500 communities in eight countries have publicly declared their abandonment of female genital cutting (FGC), including 5,500 in Senegal alone which could become the first county to have a country-wide public declaration.
Janet Tumer, a young Ilshamus girl from Kenya
Janet Tumer is a young Ilshamus girl from Kenya. Born in a family of ten, she fled to her auntie’s home to avoid undergoing FGC. Janet and her family faced a great deal of stigma within her community for not being cut throughout her time at school. She is now in her third year at university.
Read Janet Tumer’s story in her own words:
"Born in a family of ten and a second born, I grew up under my parents care and was with them most of my time. The issue on FGM/C arose when I was in class four. Most of my age mates had attained the age at which the rite was to be performed. The cultural practices were part of the way of living in the community and so all people had to adhere to the cultural norms.
Any time I give my narration on FGM, God is usually my point of reference. As a young girl, I would attend Sunday school and grew up in the church though my parents are not born again. I thank God because since that time I have never regretted.
When in class four all girls in the village were to go through the rite and were not the exception though my parents said that were not prepared to take us through the rite. Schools re-opened and we were the talk of the term. My sister who was ahead of me in class was the most disturbed since all the girls in the class were all 'adults.' This went on and in school we had no friends, neither did we have friends in the village.
December holiday approached and my sister threatened my parents that if they were not going to circumcise her, she would go to grandma's place. My parents had no option but to listen to her. Back at the church and at school the act had been condemned and so my conscience was telling me that what had been rejected by pastors and teachers was surely bad. That’s how I stood against it. My sister went through it and since it was a must for both of us, I decided to flee to my Auntie’s place to avoid being forced into FGM. My mum was displeased with me because all the women in the village were laughing at her for having a child while all the others had become adults.
Culturally, a girl is not supposed to have face to face talk with her father. I gained courage to approach my father without my mother’s knowledge and told him that I was not going through with being cut. I thank God because he gave me an answer that I didn't expect. To me it was a miracle! His worry was me getting pregnant and an uncircumcised, but I promised him I would not become pregnant. My mother was annoyed with my decision but again I assured her that I won’t shame her by getting expectant while uncircumcised.
I worked hard and soon joined high school but had no single friend in the village and girls were running away from me because I was a 'child' . This went on until I finished high school. This was the time World Vision started a girl child project in Marigat and we would attend seminars when schools were closed and this again encouraged me to pursue my goals. I am now happy that am in my 3rd year of studies at the university. They have since been supportive and that's how I managed to study this far. I am happy that am almost through with my first degree though with many challenges. I hope God will see me through my final year."