About IOM Organizational Structure IOM & Gender Activities/Best Practices Supporting the Abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation in the Context of Migration
Supporting the Abandonment of
Female Genital Mutilation
in the Context of Migration
 Genet, Tsiyon, and their friends are happy because they are the first generation in Kembata, Durame Woreda, Ethiopia, who do not have to undergo female genital cutting (FGC) at their young age. Their mothers are not willing to let them be cut because they have realized the consequences of that practice during their own lifetimes. Genet and her friends say that if the boys complain about them not being circumcised, they will say, "We don't need to marry you. © 2005 Netsanet Assaye, Courtesy of Photoshare
Today, women account for almost half of the migrant population globally. They migrate for family reunification purposes but also and increasingly in search of labour opportunities. The migration of women and families raises new issues in countries of destination, in particular health issues as migrants bring their personal health history and cultural, social, economic and environmental health beliefs with them when moving. Migration can thus create situations where cultural health practices differ from and sometimes conflict with those of the host community. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a well-recognized example of this phenomenon. Indeed, through migration, the once-remote practice of FGM and its harmful consequences have become a reality in Europe, Northern America, Australia and New Zealand.
Migration and the Abandonment of FGM: No Simple Cause and Effect Relationship Studies on the prevalence of FGM in Europe and Northern America show that the perception of certain migrant populations regarding FGM does not evolve simply because they live in the West. Often, there is continuing support for this practice among communities whose members originate from countries where FGM is a common practice, suggesting that this social convention is strongly rooted: most of the factors accounting for the persistence of the practice are still valid.  Adolescent girls participate in a livelihood training aimed at reducing adoption of Female Genital Cutting (FGC). © 2003 Melissa May, Courtesy of Photoshare
What Makes FGM in Migrant Communities So Specific? Because 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 to preserve the ethnic identity and 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. In this context, awareness-raising activities can easily be perceived as judgmental or morally offensive and result in negative reactions in migrant communities. In addition, access to proper services may be more difficult for migrants. Without even mentioning the impact of migrants' legal status on their access to services, women who have undergone FGM have special health care needs and whether these needs can be met will depend largely on the awareness of the issue among health providers. The same applies for child welfare services, education, justice, police, politicians and media.
FGM – 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 severely punished in many countries of destination.
Geneva, Switzerland. IOM, in collaboration with the Department for the Promotion of Equality between men and women, and with contribution from other State departments in charge of health, integration and youth, has developed a project targeting populations from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan. The project aims at raising awareness and knowledge of community members of the legal ban of FGM in Switzerland and of the consequences of FGM on women’s health. Cultural mediators from the various communities have been recruited and trained to act as an agent of sensitization. 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 be integrated into the labour market.
Also in Geneva, an IOM project also aims at informing social institutions of the existence of the practice of FGM and of the existing local network of assistance and prevention. In particular, the project focuses on raising the awareness and improving the knowledge of health professionals through sensitization, training and exchange of best practices. In October 2007, a symposium on the situation of FGM in Geneva was attended by more than 180 people from a wide range of medical professions. Professor Pierre Foldes, a French surgeon specialised in reconstructive surgery, also participated in the symposium. FGM – A Human Rights Violation There are a host of international instruments that reflect the commitment of states to ending harmful practices. They highlight the fact that FGM violates a series of well-established human rights principles, norms and standards and is a manifestation of discrimination and gender inequality. The continuing practice of FGM also constitutes an obstacle to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), in particular the third (promoting gender equality and empowering women), the fourth (reducing child mortality) and the fifth (improving maternal health) MDGs. Addressing FGM in the context of human rights is important for three reasons:
IOM's Approach Through pre-departure cultural orientation courses, for many years, the organization has advocated against FGM among groups preparing to resettle. IOM adopted a comprehensive and human rights based approach to address the unique challenges arising from the transposition of FGM in industrialized countries.
Rome, Italy. At the request of the Italian Government, IOM Rome was part of the Commission set up by the Ministry of Health to elaborate guidelines for Italian health care providers. Its wide range of activities is implemented in partnership with governmental institutions, NGOs and international organizations:
IOM Rome is a member of the Commission established by the Ministry of Equal Opportunities to develop a national plan of action to prevent and address FGM. IOM Rome also provides assistance to the government for the application of the law on FGM adopted in 2006. Community Empowerment As FGM is a manifestation of gender inequality, a special focus on women's empowerment in every aspect of their lives is important. But 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 intra-group dialogue. The promotion of human rights principles, empowering and non-formal education, non-judgemental discussion and non-directive facilitated dialogue are at the core of community empowerment. The sensitization campaigns' main objective is to deconstruct the myths that sustain FGM with all members of the communities with the ultimate objective being that they themselves progressively reach the conclusion that FGM should be collectively abandoned. Capacity-building of Relevant Professionals Health care providers, but also school and child care professionals, social workers, police and the justice sector must be involved, sensitized and trained 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. Health professionals in particular should be made aware that the practice of FGM violates the patients' human rights and empowered with the necessary knowledge to be sensitive to the specific needs and anxieties of migrant women and girls victims of FGM and provide the appropriate medical and psychological care.
Lisbon, Portugal; Vienna, Austria; Helsinki, Finland. IOM Lisbon, IOM Vienna and IOM Helsinki have been actively involved in the discussion and negotiation stages of the Programme of Action for the elimination of FGM as part of the wider European effort to stimulate EU Member States in developing and presenting National Plans of Action to Eliminate FGM in the EU in the framework of the Daphne Programme. IOM Lisbon will also play an active role in the implementation of several training, advocacy and awareness raising activities.
Vienna, Austria. IOM Vienna is launching an “EU/African Campaign against FGM – Prevention through Education and Dialogue”. It seeks to link diaspora associations and create connections between all relevant stakeholders in Europe and Africa. The campaign aims at raising awareness on FGM and its serious consequences through community-based information campaigns in Africa and Europe and capacity-building of all relevant professionals (health professionals, parliamentarians, diaspora associations, teachers, judiciary, law enforcement, journalists, etc.) in Europe and in Africa through trans-national workshops. Raising Awareness among Destination Countries' Governments, Relevant Stakeholders and Supporting Civil Society Action All relevant actors should join forces to make national policies and legislations work for an effective abandonment of FGM, to develop holistic child protection framework and to secure health care, social and psychological support for women and girls who have already undergone FGM. Legislation by itself is not sufficient to prevent FGM but it can strengthen the ability of agencies to protect children at risk and provide appropriate care. Efforts to end FGM should create bridges between origin and destination countries to exchange best practices. Building Bridges Across Continents Efforts towards the abandonment of FGM in countries of origin may be challenged by the visits or return of diaspora members, 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. At the same time their significant positive influence on social practices must be acknowledged. Without losing their own cultural identity and heritage, diaspora members and returnees can challenge traditional power hierarchies between men and women and promote a better recognition of women's work and women's rights. 1 Eliminating Female Genital Mutilation, An Interagency Statement, 2008, WHO et al., Geneva |
