Protect and Empower
Creating a safe space using the Nexus approach in the Somali region of Ethiopia
Under the guise of religion and honour the risk of FGM is a reality for many Somali girls. Communities place immense pressure on parents to subject their daughters to FGM to fulfill alleged social norms and religious obligations. This was the experience for Rahma and her family.
When Rahma Ahmed Hassan, a 36-year-old mother of six (four girls and two boys), was forced to flee her home with her children following ethnic conflicts in Belbeleyti in the Oromia region, they found themselves at the Qoloji IDP Camp. The Camp, set to be a safe space for those fleeing the conflict, was in fact unsafe and hostile environment, where young girls were at risk of FGM. In 2021, after several years of living in the camp, Rahma’s daughter, Faduma Ahmed-deq Mohamed who was 9 years old at the time was subjected to FGM as a part of an arranged group circumcision of more than 30 girls in the Camp.
Due to strong community networks, the incident was reported by members of a Community Child Protection Committee established by the Somali region Bureau of Women and Children Affairs in collaboration with UNICEF. This prompted the intervention of community service workers deployed to support Child-Friendly Spaces who were able to initiate emergency support services for the young girls. Four of the girls who were subjected to FGM including Faduma Ahmed-Deq, were immediately referred to Jijiga Karamara Hospital and received emergency medical and psychosocial support services.
It was during this time that Rahma learned more about the harm of FGM. She expressed sorrow for her ignorance and lack of understanding of the full extent of the harm of the practice. Fortunately, Faduma Ahmed-Deq received high-quality care and through collective learning, Rhama became a strong advocate for FGM elimination in the IDP Camp, and along with other community members received comprehensive awareness-raising support. The persistent and collaborative efforts of the community service workers and community groups prevented the other 26 girls from facing the same harm as Faduma Ahmed-Deq. Those responsible for the incident were arrested and later prosecuted.
Fosia Abdi, the Head of the Women and Children Affairs Office in Babile, said: “This incident opened our eyes and conscience to the reality in Qoloji IDP Camps and it triggered our collective action to fight against FGM practice not only in normal settlements but also in the displaced communities”. According to Fosia Abdi, the collaboration with UNICEF and others enabled them to quickly set up comprehensive interventions to prevent harmful practices in the IDP Camps, including regular community conversation sessions, engagements with religious leaders, and proactive sessions to empower girls.
Rahma Ahmed Hassan and her daughter Faduma Ahmed-deq Mohamed are now active participants in the ongoing campaign to end harmful practices including FGM and child marriage in the Qoloji Camp. Rahma regularly attends the bi-weekly community conversation sessions in the camp and openly shares her experience with the wider group. She also works with community conversation facilitators and religious leaders to convey messages and reach awareness. She explained, “It is like living in the dark to practice FGM; it ruins the health, morals, and well-being of girls and women. We ask God's forgiveness and would like to urge every mother to stand the fight against this evil practice”.
“The practice has no place in Islam and despite the challenges of deep-rooted traditional practice, we are committed to completely denouncing and challenging the practice."
Recognizing the importance of engaging religious leaders was necessary to debunk harmful religious misconceptions.
“The practice has no place in Islam and despite the challenges of deep-rooted traditional practice, we are committed to completely denouncing and challenging the practice. Though the programme supported us to come together and have long discussions and produce Fatwa at the regional level, we feel it is our religious obligation to denounce the practice and will not stop until it’s completely eradicated,” said Sheikh Mohamed Abdulahi who is one of the religious leaders preaching for complete abandonment of FGM practice in Qoloji IDP.
Faduma Ahmed-deq Mohamed, Rahma’s daughter is also enrolled in an Adolescent Girl’s Empowerment Programme and is now participating in one of the young groups’ cohorts of ages between 10 to 14 taking the life skills development programme in Qoloji IDP.
“Faduma is an active member of the group. She shares her story with her peer group and is willing to change the lives of other girls and encourages them to prevent FGM. Through life skills training Faduma and other adolescent girls gained better skills for proper communication, self-awareness, and confidence. We can now speak in public gatherings and influence the decisions affecting our lives” said Umulkhayr Abdi- mentor for adolescent groups.
Ramha and her daughter’s story underscores the practical implications and significance of the Nexus Approach and the value of safe and empowering spaces. These spaces not only provide refuge but also enable swift responses to harm and facilitate access to essential services and support networks. Furthermore, they play a crucial role in fostering behavioural change by offering environments conducive to healing, learning, and empowerment. Their story also highlights the importance of strong community networks, demonstrating how collective action and solidarity can empower affected communities to ensure young girls are protected and supported.
Spaces that may initially result from a crisis can be reshaped to ensure they are safe and supportive. By leveraging resources, expertise, and community engagement, these spaces can evolve into catalysts for positive change, offering solace, empowerment, and opportunities for growth amidst adversity.
This story captures the value of the Nexus Approach and the importance of programming and responses that are resilient to the inevitable changes in context that countries regularly experience. It encompasses both emergency preparedness and disaster risk reduction and shows how, in the midst of a complex space such as an IDP Camp, efforts that foster community engagement, participation, and empowerment can lead to real-world positive impact.
The UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on Eliminating Female Genital Mutilation is working to enhance the implementation of the Humanitarian‑Development Nexus Approach within the context of Female Genital Mutilation (“FGM”). Over the last year, the Joint Programme has worked with select country offices to strengthen their technical capacity to effectively implement the Nexus Approach. Through this work, the Joint Programme has gained some insights into the tangible impact of the Nexus Approach. Alongside the innovative and practical ways country offices have been implementing the Nexus Approach, the real-life experience set out below captures the real value of the Approach. As more country offices begin their journey towards implementing the Nexus Approach, they can draw inspiration from real-life experiences that have transformative effects on individuals and communities. This story provides a powerful lens through which country offices can understand the practical implications and significance of the Nexus Approach.
