An integration issue: Moving to another country can be challenging for families
as they try to adjust to a completely different environment and culture,
while at the same time trying to preserve essential elements of their
own culture. However, continuing the practice of FGM conflicts with
fundamental values and is unlawful and severely punished in many countries
of destination.
Additionally, the ability
of a migrant to integrate into a host society is based on combined mental, physical,
cultural and social well-being. FGM and its attendant consequences can impede
women’s and girls’ efforts to integrate into the host society, since poor
health impacts on their ability to attend and succeed at school and therefore,
integrate into the labour market.
Empowering Women: As FGM is a manifestation
of gender inequality, a special focus on women’s empowerment in every aspect of
their lives is important. Empowering activities for women include, for
instance, proper educational sessions such as literacy training, or pre-employment
training sessions. Even though women play a central role in the practice of
FGM, activities must reach all groups in the communities to avoid
misunderstanding and to lead to intragroup dialogue.
Building Bridges across continents: Efforts
towards the abandonment of FGM in countries of origin may be challenged
by the visits or return of members of the community living abroad,
as migrants are often unaware of the evolution of the practice in their
countries of origin. Because they were not involved in the consensus-building
process that led to the abandonment, they may argue that the tradition
should be maintained for the sake of the group’s identity. Since the
diaspora greatly contributes to communities’ life in their countries of
origin, in particular through remittances transfers, their potential
to have a detrimental impact may be very important, an aspect that
should not be neglected.
Capacity-building of
relevant professionals: Gynaecologists, midwives, paediatricians,
psychologists, general practitioners, as well as school nurses, teachers, child
care professionals, social workers, police and the justice sector must be
involved and trained, through sensitization campaigns and specific trainings,
on how to identify girls who may be in danger of being subjected, or who may have
been subjected, to FGM and which steps can and must be taken.
Day-care centres, schools,
mother and child welfare services have a particular responsibility in identifying
children at risk or those who suffer from the consequences of FGM. They can
build a privileged relation with the parents.
Remember: FGM is strongly linked to culture; it becomes
an integration issue, in addition to being a health and human rights
issue. In situations where integration is difficult, it often results in
a withdrawal into the community and sometimes stricter
application or toughening of cultural practices. In this case, the
preservation of ethnic identity is used to mark a distinction from the
host society, especially when migrants are resettling in a receiving
culture where women have more freedom of choice and expression,
including in their sexuality, as compared to their community of origin.
Fighting against FGM in
Western countries can also particularly challenging as awareness-raising activities
can easily be perceived as judgmental.
We all have a role to play
in ending female genital mutilation.
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