Challenging community discrimination to stand against FGM

She is one of the girls in her district who narrowly escaped FGM. She says, ''when we completed the 3rd grade, I made a secret agreement with my four friends to undergo Female genital mutilation (FGM) during the summer break. We asked around and found the woman who cuts girls in the village.'' 

Bereket said the motivating factor for her to make this decision was her desire to be like her peers, for many of them considered FGM as a duty and rite of passage. She says, they used to feel like an outcast because their friends were circumcised and the five of them were not.

But to their disappointment, Bereket and her friends were told by the circumciser that FGM had become an illegal act and many who had been caught red-handed were apprehended and brought to justice. Bereket said, she and her friends had to promise the old lady that they would not utter a word about it. ”She strongly warned us to keep it a secret, and we made an appointment to get circumcised,'' she recalls.  

Bereket didn't say a word to her parents about her decision. She knew that her mother is of the opinion that young girls should be circumcised with or without their consent. On the otherhand, her father has become an ardent opponent of the practice. He has recently became outspoken about his distaste to the practice.    

Bereket and her friends came up with an excuse to visit the circumciser. She told her parents that she might return late from church one day. She also thought of pretending to have a headache upon her return so that she could stay at home until her wounds healed. 

Increased engagement of communities drives practice of FGM underground

The Sidama Region is among the regions in Ethiopia where there is high prevalence of FGM. Governmental, non-governmetal, community-based and faith-based organizations have strengthened their collaboration in working together to put an end to this harmful practice.

With the support of UNFPA, the Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) has been collaborating with the Ethiopian Catholic Church (ECC) in implementing an intervention called “Addressing Reproductive Health consequences of FGM” in 9 districts of the Sidama Region. The intervention aimed at creating an enabling environment for the elimination of FGM through the engagement of faith based organizations, community structures and government stakeholders, among others.

The effort involved not only sensitizing the community but also sought collaborative action for prevention and response to FGM. Adolescent boys and girls in schools are also being involved in the effort. One of the results of such engagements has been the commitment individuals such as Bereket’s father make in the community not to allow such practice in their home and village.

Due to the increasing sensitization of communities on the harms of FGM, the practice started to be conducted secretly, often at night.

By the time Bereket and her friends reached the place arranged by the circumciser for their circumcision, the woman decided to conduct the cutting in some far off place to avoid suspicion by her neighbours and the community. ''We started waiting for our turn at an inconspicuous farm. I was second in line. I was scared when I saw my friend getting circumcised. They had gagged her so that she wouldn't cry in agony. I was terrified,” says Bereket.  

But she was not prepared at all for what happened next. Bereket’s father who got wind of what she and her friends were up to asked around and found their whereabouts. His sudden appearance shocked everyone. He rescued his daughter and the rest of her friends. He warned the circumciser that it was the last time he would tolerate her actions and will report her to the police.

Joining the anti-FGM movement

Back home Bereket’s father explained to her and her disappointed mother what he had learnt at Church about FGM not being an act supported by the Bible. He also mentioned to them about the information he got from the different community held dialogues he participated in.

Bereket gradually understood that she has after all a choice not to be pressured by her mother nor her peers on matters that put her wellbeing at risk. She also started asking about the negative impacts of FGM discussing with other female students in her school.  

Four years later, she now feels confident with herself and appreciates herself the way she is.

''Some people try to tease and embarrass me pointing fingers and saying, 'she is uncircumcised’, but I don't care,'' says Bereket smiling and waving her right hand as she speaks.  

Bereket is thankful for her father to have opened her eyes to stand against the harmful practice of FGM.