In celebration of the National Day of Combating FGM (June 14th, 2021), the Anti-FGM Task Force has initiated a discussion around the latest amendments to the penal code, which includes Article (242) bis and (242) (a) bis on criminalizing FGM. The discussion revolved around the new amendments, such as: expanding, professional and social responsibility by closing any institutions that conduct FGM on its premises, eliminating the clause on “medical necessity” from the article as an excuse for FGM, refuting any legality added to female circumcision by deleting the reference to Article 61 of the Penal Code, and finally, including penalties for those in charge of advocating and promoting FGM even if it does not result in action.

Endless Pain is a campaign launched by Tadwein for Gender Studies in conjunction with the National Day Against Female Genital Mutilation. In this campaign, stories of women who have undergone female genital mutilation were published.
Female genital mutilation, as defined by the United Nations, is “all procedures that involve the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injuries to the female genital organs for cultural or other non-medical reasons.” It is a crime against girls and women.

Endless Pain is a campaign launched by Tadwein for Gender Studies in conjunction with the National Day Against Female Genital Mutilation on June 14.

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 Anti-FGM Task Force welcomes most of the proposed amendments approved by the Cabinet of Egypt on Wednesday, January 20, 2021, regarding the two articles criminalizing FGM (242 bis) and (242 bis A). These amendments came in response to the repeated demands of the Anti-FGM Task Force and civil society organizations. The Task Force commends the inclusion of those responsible for private medical facilities within the scope of accountability with the aim of expanding legal responsibility, which is what the Task Force demanded in its successive legal comments on the applicable legal articles. The Anti-FGM Task Force is still looking for more government guarantees to limit the spread of this phenomenon and eliminate it. It also calls on members of the Egyptian Parliament to consider the proposals contained in this statement, which ensure the effectiveness of this law after its passage and aims to encourage everyone to file complaints against the main offenders.

Tadwein for Gender Studies conducted a study to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of medical students towards the practice of FGM in Egypt. This study also aimed to understand the extent to which medical students have received any theoretical or practical information about FGM during their undergraduate years.   

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) defines child marriage as any formal marriage or informal union between a child under the age of 18 and an adult or another child. It is also one of the worst forms of violence that children, especially girls, may be exposed to. According to UN estimations, 12 million girls around the world get married before the age of 18 every year.

A statement was issued by the Anti-FGM Task Force on August 7, 2020, supporting the referral of a doctor to the administrative trial for the circumcision of a girl, and demands to stop the usage of mitigating sanctions and a stay of execution against doctors practicing FGM.

The crime of FGM comes on top of the crimes that women and girls already suffer from in Egypt. Therefore, Tadwein for Gender Studies launched a campaign titled “Stop the Medicalization of FGM” during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. The campaign aimed to shed light on the medicalization of FGM and to raise doctors’ awareness and knowledge about the issue.

Tadwein has worked on this project from mid-2019 to mid-2020. Tadwein is implementing this project to raise awareness about the harmful impacts of early/child marriage on the lives of women in urban greater Cairo and rural areas in Fayoum.