There
is a lot of assumption by professionals involved in dealing with female genital
mutilation. In my view, the difficult goal of raising awareness and changing
mind sets, should begin by working from bottom to top not vice versa. With FGM,
people need to get involved with communities and gain trust before anything
else. This then will enable people to feel comfortable to walk in or contact
the NHS / CPS, the police or any other source of help that they might need.
Furthermore
professionals can sometimes forget that FGM is a broad subject and an
understanding of one aspect of it does not solve the problem. In-depth
understanding of people and their beliefs is crucial and working to this fit in
with our campaign is what will bring about real change.
Working with the community
Community
leaders, religious leaders, church elders from FGM practising communities will
play a key role in changing mindsets. People do not want to feel as if they are
being attacked and are likely to”stone wall” apparent interference. Few victims,
I think, would have the confidence or even the desire to walk into their local
NHS centre and say they were mutilated , particularly given they will have been
misled into believing that the practise is a necessary part of their culture,
rather than plain abuse.
Educating Frontliners
Educating
the victims and making them aware of what it is we are trying to stop( Schools
and Teacher training for example. There are still some teachers who are unclear
about FGM, and would presumably find it difficult to identify a child that
might be at risk, or has been taken for cutting/mutilation)
Raising Awareness
Raising
awareness is the starting point. More grass root work needs to be done with communities.
This
could be done by:
- Using the local
radio stations
- Different womens
discussion groups and talks
- Sharing information
with different members of the communities
- Visiting schools
(sex education and talk about FGM)
- Plays, dramatising(visual
is better than reading)
- Local news and television
Training
- Teachers, the police and other frontline staff
The ending female genital mutilation war has to be fought on all fronts.
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