In Egypt, men and boys stand firm against female genital mutilation
“People tell me that we have inherited this practice – they do it because their neighbors are doing it,” Georgi Wahba told the UN sexual and reproductive health agency UNFPA.
Mr Wahba, 53, who lives in his village in Upper Egypt’s Minya governorate, is known for his advocacy against female genital mutilation, a practice that is banned in the country but remains common. estimate 86% The proportion of Egyptian married women aged 15 to 49 who have undergone some form of surgery rises to 96% in Upper Egypt.
“I ask them what they gain by subjecting girls to this situation,” Wahba said of the awareness-raising events he holds with families, couples and communities. “If you are getting married, why do you need this woman to undergo FGM? Isn’t it more important to agree on other things and build a life together?”
He began organizing these meetings as part of UNFPA’s “Intergenerational Dialogues,” a project that aims to change perceptions of harmful practices by encouraging communities to act as change agents and, like Mr. Wahba, learn how to Next, bridging the gap between generations: It involves unequal social norms and traditions.
Participate in the conversation
To address the taboos that often arise in discussions around this topic, Mr. Wahba is committed to ensuring that everyone has an enjoyable and inclusive learning experience. “We bring the whole family together — husbands, wives and their daughters — and spend the day with them,” he said.
The project, funded by the Norwegian government, also provides training on how to communicate harmful practices to other community members. Since its launch in 2021, more than 350 community members have participated and become “conversation champions” like Mr. Wahba.
For Mr. Wahba, it was important to learn how to talk about the issue in a way that felt natural. He doesn’t want others to simply agree with him without understanding why; instead, he wants everyone to draw their own conclusions based on the facts they’ve learned. When community members refused to attend meetings, he was patient, encouraging them to think for themselves and not take for granted the customs they had grown up with.
Mr. Wahba is now a trusted voice on the matter, and when his neighbors hear about someone at risk of female genital mutilation, they contact him. It’s progress like this that makes him hopeful for the future. He believes people in the community are more aware of the issue than ever before and know that open, honest dialogue is the way forward.
“Engaging in conversations among family, friends and the community is the most important step.”
take a stand
Although female genital mutilation is often viewed as a patriarchal norm designed to oppress women and girls, in reality, boys and men from communities of practice at least possible Like women and girls fight it. The attitudes of parents, including fathers of young girls, are particularly important.
While taking a stand for your daughters is an important step, advocating for the elimination of the practice is an even more powerful way for men to effect change. Fathers like Zanati El-Soy from Assiut Governorate in Upper Egypt have seen firsthand what this character can accomplish. Mr El-Sawy’s journey began when he came home one day and told his wife he needed to discuss something important.
“I’m always interested in educating myself and expanding my horizons,” he explains. “I have daughters, so I decided to research the topic of female genital mutilation.”
This prompted him to attend a four-day workshop on violence against women and other forms of violence, co-organized by UNFPA and the NGO Care.
“I learned about the harmful effects of female genital mutilation on women and girls and that it has no religious or medical basis,” he said. “I found that this was not necessary at all.”
At the workshop, participants like Mr. El-Sawy took part in classes designed specifically for men and boys. While specifically focusing on female genital mutilation, the conference also covered topics such as self-image and identity, gender power dynamics and gender-based violence.
While he initially found it difficult to let go of the practice he grew up with, Mr Ersoy now considers himself an ally in the fight against female genital mutilation and feels compelled to share what he has learned. He believes men have a special responsibility to discuss the topic with their peers.
“Women have the same rights as men – they should have as much of a voice as men.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
