Round Table Discussion: “Together to Unite Efforts to Eradicate Female Genital Mutilation in Egypt”
On the 7th of April 2021, and in light of World Health Day, Tadwein for Gender Studies coordinated a round table discussion titled “Together to Unite Efforts to Eradicate Female Genital Mutilation in Egypt”. The discussion included four main dialogue sessions. These were: the new amendments to the Egyptian FGM law, difficulties and challenges faced by the medical syndicate in eliminating medical FGM, mechanisms to increase reporting and response to FGM crimes, and the enhancement of the collaboration between governmental and non-governmental institutions. The discussion was attended by representatives from the government, parliament, medical syndicate, and NGOs. Recommendations were:
The inclusion of men in all activities supports women and their social rights.
Unifying efforts among all state institutions and stakeholders concerned with working on the issue of female genital mutilation.
Intensely working on initiating law implementing mechanisms and finding ways to increase the reporting rates on this crime.
Training judiciary and prosecution men as well as centers for legal studies on dealing with the issue of FGM to understand the full scope of the issue as well as its dangers to deal with it in a realistic and effective manner.
Raising awareness among doctors, especially those influential in their areas, on the physical, psychological, and sexual dangers of FGM, as they’ll get to have a strong impact and influence on their societies.
Launching a media campaign directed to some groups, such as media figures, representatives, and other socially influential characters to encourage them to address and work on the issue of FGM.
The importance of discussing FGM from a legal perspective and avoiding discussing it from a religious one. Moreover, it must be dealt with as a crime rather than a social habit.
The creation of protection mechanisms for those who report crimes of FGM.
Obliging the medical syndicate to penalize FGM-practicing doctors as this practice is considered a violation of medical ethics.
Training students in all faculties and institutes on the physical, psychological, and sexual damages of FGM, and the laws criminalizing it.
Expanding social research on FGM to draw a clearer picture of this issue.
Training concerned personnel working in the field of combating FGM on effectively communicating their messages.
Creating a database for all NGOs that displays each organization’s scope of work to facilitate cooperation.
It necessitates holding periodic meetings for the institutions working on the cause of combating FGM to prioritize their needs and propose ideas to work on them unilaterally and parallelly.
