Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Isabelle Gemperle

FGM/C in the Global Civil Society  Anderson and Rieff (2005) ‘Global civil society is claimed to be the international, transnational analogue of that which is called ‘civil society’ in a settled domestic democratic society’  Castells (2008) ‘nongovernmental actors become the advocates of the needs, interests, and values of people at large, thus further undermining the role of governments in response to challenges posed by globalization and structural transformation’  Keck & Sikkink (1998) Transnational advocacy network  not only influence but transform

FGM/C  girls in the age between 4 and 12 years  mostly exercised in parts of Africa, Asia, and in some Arab countries  more than 100 to 140 million girls and women have undergone FGM/C (UNICEF 2008)  additional 3 million of girls and women are at risk every year (UNICEF 2008)

FGM/C  origin of the practice found in tradition not religion  rite passage to womanhood  No health benefits, only harm  different types of FGM Typ I, II, III, and IV

FGM/C in the Global Civil Society  Is FGM a global concern?  The Elephant in the room (Eviatar Zerubavel, 2006)  Human rights  UN Resolution A/RES/67/146, December 2012  Immigrants and refugees, i.e. UK, U.S., France  228,000 girls and women have been cut or are at risk of being cut in the United States (Census report 2002 by African Women’s Health Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital)

FGM/C prevalence worldwide Source: WomanStatsProject 2011

FGM/C prevalence among women aged in Africa Source: UNICEF Female genital mutilation/cutting: A statistical exploration 2005

The Case of Egypt  91% of all women between the age of have been circumcised (EDHS 2008)  1995 first national and international wave of opponents  In 2007, Egyptian government adopted law of health ministry (1997) and imposed overall ban in the whole country  penal code: ‘a sentence of minimum 3 months to maximum 2 years in prison” or “a penalty of a minimum of one 1,000 Egyptian pounds (LE) and a maximum of 5,000 LE’

The Case of Egypt  EDHS report (2008) girls and women circumcised in Egypt  1995: 97%  2000: 97%  2008: 91%  Opponents - i.e. the Muslim Brotherhood  legal ban entails limitations

Egypt Demographic and Health Survey 2008 (2009), p. 197 Circumcised girls and women in Egypt after the legal ban in 2007

The Case of Egypt  EDHS report (2008) girls and women circumcised in Egypt  1995: 97%  2000: 97%  2008: 91%  Opponents - i.e. the Muslim Brotherhood  legal ban entails limitations

Global Civil Society - Response  raise awareness/knowledge  traditional, intransigent attitudes  Behavior change  Castells (2008) ‘Often they[NGOs] affirm values that are universally recognized but politically manipulated in their own interest by political agencies, including governments.’

New Woman Foundation (NWF)  Egyptian non-governmental organization  mission of NWF is ‘the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women in society, whether economic, socio-, political or legal system’  raises awareness, addresses taboos, targets the empowerment of women, as well as fights for women’s rights in Egypt

Recommendations  Support NOGs  Combat FGM from within  awareness, information, education  Work together, civil society, transnational and international actors  Address the practitioners  rely on ritual - economic difficulty  Involve men, i.e. bell bajao

End FGM/C European Campaign  Clip 

Questions?