COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP TO ERADICATE FGM IN RURAL SOMALIA CCIH PRESENTATION By Annastacia Olembo MA On 28 th May 2007

INTRODUCTION….  Was a 3 year anti-FGM programme in Somalia South / Central Somalia  Assessment was done before intervention  Partnership assisted by networking was mainstay of intervention  Evaluation was done to measure effects 3 years of intervention  Much was achievement

ABOUT SOMALIA  Independence from British / Italian Somaliland  Somaliland independent 1991  Puntland independent 1998  At war since 1991

BASIC FACTS ON SOMALIA Size638,000 sq kms Population6.8 million Annual pop growth rate 2.9% Coastline3000 kms < 15 years45% years32% Nomadic60 – 70% RainScarce

BASIC FACTS ON SOMALIA…. LLow literacy level IInadequate access to family planning SSkilled birth attendants scarce IInadequate access to Essential / Emergency Obstetric Care QQuality of maternal health services still poor AAnaemia and vitamin A deficiency are common in women

PROJECT LOCATION IN SOMALIA North West North East Central South Waajid and Tiyeglow Bakool Region Bualle and Sakkow in Middle Juba Region

SITUATION OF FGM AS SHOWN BY ASSESSEMENT IN 2004 Assessment 2004 Respondents277 Girls done FGM76% out which 92% infibulations FGM by TBA61..9% FGM by traditional practitioners 33.1% Noreen Prendenville 1999 Global Somalia Women with FGM done97%

WHAT IS FGM WHY SOMALIS ENGAGE IN IT WHO definition” a surgical procedure which involves partial or total removal of female external reproductive organs for cultural or non therapeutic reasons.” RReligious; Culture; prevents promiscuity CControls libido & preserve virginity PPromotes cleanliness AAssures marriage MMaterial gain for the circumciser

WHAT IS FGM AND WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF FGM  Type 1 – CLITORIDECTOMY (Sunna)- removal of all or part of the clitoris  Type IIEXCISION - removal of the clitoris and part or all of the labia minora  Type III INFIBULATION (Pharaonic) - removal of all or part of the external genitalia and stitching of the vaginal orifice  Type IV UNCLASSIFIED - very invasive, includes piercing, cauterization and incision to the vaginal wall.

DOCUMENTED HARMFUL EFFECTS OF FGM  Haemorrhage, infections and Sepsis  Scarring and obstruction affecting menstrual outflow / coitus  Difficult labour  Vesico / Recto Vaginal Fistula  Incontinence of urine / faeces  Social rejection by spouses and families

FISTULA PATIENT AND SURVIVOR …..

PROJECT GOALS, PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES  Goal - contribute towards elimination of FGM among the Somalis in Waajid, Tiyeglow and Bualle Districts.  Purpose - reduce the incidences of FGM by increasing awareness  Specific Objectives:-  Disseminate information on harmful effects of FGM  Advocate for elimination of FGM including human rights aspect, the rights of the girl child and women;  Training and capacity building for WVS staff, community leaders, women groups, youth groups, teachers, religious leaders, and other stake holders;

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES  Integrate FGM activities  Promotion of girl child education  Providing support to the FGM victims through counselling services within the health facilities  Referral for those with fistulae for further management to Ethiopia

HOW WAS PROGRAMME DESIGNED / METHODS  Informed by prior Assessment 2004 and previous knowledge  Essentially based on Partnership  Based on guidelines and partners trained on them  Designed within context of goal and objectives  Based on socio-economic context  Based on ability to influence change  Partnership Model: Public-private partnership and Partnership with Donors

THE PARTNERSHIP DYNAMICS  Partnership was with community based organs to elicit bottom-up actions to improve awareness and stop FGM  Formed at local, district, regional and national levels  FGM practitioners were convinced to abandon circumcision and get alternative sources of income  Programme supported them through IGA

INTERNAL PARTNERS RECRUITED AND TRAINED  District Councils, Elders, Village Health Committees recruited / trained  Anti – FGM Committees formed advocacy, awareness, human and girl child rights, support to FGM sufferers  Traditional, religious leaders including Imams recruited and trained  Women group and the youth  The traditional birth attendants  Traditional FGM practitioners convinced and left practice  Other sectors: Health staff, Education : - teachers and CECs, PTAs  Cousellors  Business sector

...EXTERNAL PARTNERS WWorld Vision Finland funded it WWV Australia, WV Canada, and WV Ireland also assisted SSACB Somalia Aid Coordinating Body shared infomation, advocacy and contacts UUnited Nations Forums: UNICEF, UNIFEM, UNFPA, UN Conventions on FGM, agitation for the rights of the child and girl child AAddis Ababa Fistula Hospital

RESULTS / OUTCOME % population preferring milder FGM58% % ready to abandon FGM15% % Practicing FGM40.4% Sunna 27.3% Pharoanic Anti-FGM Committees106 Practitioners abandoning FGM32.5% 2.5% (2004) Fistula patients facilitated48 done Loans disbursed$20,000 to 300 women FGM messages integrated in other programmes in WV Somalia Health, Education, Relief and Food Security On going One sheik per mobilization groupdone Resource centreEstablished and equipped Positive InfluenceInfluenced the development of child policy

WHAT MADE PARTNERSHIP WORK  Involving men and the youth in the project activities  House to House Mobilization  Community mobilization and awareness raising  Fistula survivors became great advocates  Support for Girl child Education

YOUTH DURING TRAINING IN WAAJID

WHAT MADE PARTNERSHIP WORK….  Above are loan beneficiaries  Anti-FGM committees formed in all the districts  Formation of groups and training on Business Management and marketing  Provision of loans up to $2000 per 30 members

INVOLVING MEN AND YOUTH IN THE PROJECT ACTIVITIES  Economic Empowerment and alternative sources of livelihood  Advocacy and Networking  Out of school boys and girls skills development