Community Empowerment for the Better Health of Women and Children in Upper Egypt
.jpg) |
|
© UNICEF Egypt/ 2006/ Todras-Whitehill |
|
Reda with one of her daughters |
An interview by Tiziana Barrucci
Minya, June 2006: Looking in her eyes you can easily feel the horror she was going through that day. As Reda Hassan recounted the moment which unalterably changed her life, she stared with an empty look into space. “My mother called a daya (village midwife) over to our house, because she said I needed to be purified. Then it all happened. I couldn’t sleep at all that night. I was scared, shocked and cried for help”.
When she was “circumcised” as the practice is called in Egypt, Reda was only 12 years old. Many women, like Reda, here in Minya about 250 kilometres south of Cairo, are changing their minds about female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C).
UNICEF is an active participant in the national campaign against FGM/C in Egypt, working with a variety of NGOs and national partners. In Minya, UNICEF supports the Better Life Association for Comprehensive Development (BLACD), a local NGO.
The Programme is based on an innovative community mobilization strategy, using individuals who have already chosen to stand against FGM/C, and who have found a new positive path for themselves and their families by rejecting the practice. They are called “positive deviants” and they undertake awareness-raising activities within their community to educate people on the harms of FGM/C and persuade them to abandon the practice. Reda’s daughter, Sabrin, is one of them. She was also the one who convinced her mother against the practice.
- Reda, what is the thing you remember most about that day?
The pain. I was bleeding heavily, so they applied some ashes from the oven (popularly believed to have curative and healing properties) to the wound. It didn’t work though, and the bleeding continued. Then I was taken to the health clinic where they treated me.
- What problems did you face after that day?
At the beginning there were physical problems. Horrible problems. I am telling you, I am still upset about what happened to me on that day. I was completely devastated and going to the doctor didn’t really help. I will never be able to forget that day, even after so many years.
- What problems did you have besides the physical pain?
I faced many problems, sexual problems, after my marriage. You know how a man can get tired of you... (Reda looks embarrassed, and then says with a smile) Can I speak in this way? Now it has been 27 years since I got married and honestly, I don’t feel comfortable with my husband. I think that he doesn’t feel that he is satisfied with me either.
- How do you feel now?
I know I am not doing my duty towards my husband. I am not giving him the pleasure I should. At the beginning I didn’t know that this was because of my circumcision. But then I began to understand. I am not doing what I could because I am circumcised. This is why I will not circumcise my daughters. I don’t want them to be like me.
.JPG) |
|
© UNICEF Egypt/ 2006/ Todras-Whitehill |
|
Women attending an awareness-raising session conducted by BLACD |
- How come you decided that?
Well, after all of that happened to me, I had many doubts about female circumcision. Then my daughter Sabrin started to work for BLACD, and she convinced me more. So far all my daughters are living good lives without being circumcised. No one can say that there is something wrong with them. Now they are all grown up. Only one is still waiting for a husband, and if God wills it, she will get married soon.
- What would you say if someone insulted your daughter because she’s not “purified”?
No, no one can say anything like that because she hasn’t done anything wrong.
- And how would you justify not circumcising your daughters?
Well, I would say the truth, that I don’t want my girls to suffer what I suffered. I will tell them about the problems in my marriage which I still suffer from.
- Are you happy that your daughter Sabrin is working with BLACD on its anti-FGM/C campaign?
Of course I am. She is a good girl and I don’t wish her to ever go through such a terrible experience in her life. I did my best to convince their father and grand mother that circumcision is bad. Now my husband knows that the problems I have with him are because of circumcision, and he won’t try to do anything. My daughters will live a happy life.
