Engaging Religious Leaders to end FGM and Child, Early and Forced Marriage in Ethiopia, the experience of NCA ( ) Conference on Religion and Development: Dialogue on Gender, Rights, and Sensitive Issues Oslo, Norway May 20,2016. Kidist Belayneh

How big is the problem? Globally 140 million girls and women undergone FGM

Prevalence of FGM in Ethiopia

Varies by age, ethnic, type (religion and geography), practitioners, and rationale.

 Promising changes;  Clandestine practice, medicalization, backlash and practicing in secrecy are on the rise;  Resistance for total abandonment;  Government Priority –legislative policy, strategy.  Following global momentum set clear target to end by Trends and National Response

2010 UNFPA study:  87% of women regularly visited a church or mosque in the previous year,  Most accessible - travel to religious places takes an average of less than 30 minutes compared to 2 hours to hospital(in rural) and 50 minutes ( in urban).  High coverage and reach compared to the formal sector; and own services – health, education and other own properties.  Big constituency and easily to be reached.  Respect and influence -daily life of families - custodians of individual and communal belief. Drivers of change Why Faith Actors? Religion is important to the people:  62.8 % -Christians ( Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant)  33.9% -Muslims,  Animist- 2.6%,  Other- 0.7% (CSA, 2007)

Engagement – Strategy or ‘Model’ Top leadership – make the issue known to them – extent of the problem –facts, and allow reflection- their role and contribution? Theological Reflection document – find scriptural ground for the practice - reflecting on beliefs and norms surrounding the practice– ‘social norm’ change communication document Declaration – consensus building and increased commitment – (Institutional and Individual) Dissemination of the commitment to the wider faith community – through sensitization, series of dialogues and capacity building Integration- FBOs structure/ sermons – Institutionalization and Cascading Accountability – tracking, continues sharing, learning, and documentation How?

What have we achieved?

Evangelical Churches Fellowship of Ethiopia- Declaration January, 2010

Ethiopian Orthodox Church – Declaration October, 2011

Ethiopian Catholic Church Declaration- February, 2013

Ethiopian Muslim Development Agency- December, - consecutive dialogues Fatwa declaration

 24 Interfaith dialogues ( )  Interfaith Joint Statement

 No more taboo in discussing the issue within the faith community.  Integration - 65 theological colleges and clergy training centers.  Faith actors –are recognized as key in the national response and coordination mechanism - eg. HTP strategy, and 2025 commitment.  Increased commitment- eg. father confessors sparing hundreds of girls including of their own.  Increased preference of marrying uncut girls.

 Faith actors are part and parcel of the social change process.  Find the right entry point, understanding the context and no one size fits for all.  Understanding diversity, power dynamics between and within faith actors.  Faith Actors are drivers of change but if only they own the process, accompanied and their capacity is built.  Keep the momentum but don’t ‘push’ rather continue dialogue; and look for coordination.  Accountability – translate commitments and cascading Learning?

Way forward How do I know you walk the talk

THANK YOU!