Men and boys join fight against Female Genital Mutilation and child marriage
“For the first time, I know that circumcision is not good for a girl, and I have younger sisters."
Today, more boys and men are joining efforts to advocate against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Child Marriage (CM). The new advocates organize dialogues encouraging communities to abandon all types of FGM and child marriage. Many are committed to changing the communities they live in to ensure girls are protected from the practice.
Community sports clubs and recreation activities in Sudan are places dominated by men discussing a wide range of activities. When Shabab AlJadian organization, UNICEF’s implementing partner, started discussing issues related to Female Genital Mutilation and Child Marriage, the clubs were their first entry point. However, this was not well received. The two topics were considered women’s issues.
However, over time and by being persistent in engaging men, and strategic in its social behavioral change communication approaches, Shabab AlJadian organization won the ears, minds, and hearts of more and more men.
Equipped with information from the sessions, more men and boys started to provide protection of children from the two practices that rob children of their childhood.
Through the engagements, many heard about the dangers of FGM –
“For the first time, I know that circumcision is not good for a girl, and I have younger sisters. I will not allow them to be circumcised,"
“I will prevent my mother and father, and I tell them not to circumcise them, and when the midwife comes, I will stand up for my sisters and hide them, and also speak to my classmates at school,”
Public sessions on FGM and child marriage were organized and attended by 250 boys and girls (125F, 125M); 50 per state in the five states of Khartoum, Gedarif, Kassala, Blue Nile and White Nile. During the interactions, challenges that prevent communities from eradicating FGM and CM were also identified, and mitigation mechanisms proposed.
“I will talk to my mother and father against circumcising my younger sisters and prevent the midwife from entering the house,” concluded both Moyaser Gosay ,10 years old, Khartoum State.
An additional, 525 boy scouts and men aged between 14 and 40 years attended outreach sessions on the Saleema initiative, FGM article 141 and life skills, while 133 youth (78M, 55 F) were engaged in the youth mechanisms activities on social norms, peace building and innovation in the five states.
Launched in 2008 by the National Council of Child Welfare (NCCW) and UNICEF Sudan, the Saleema initiative supports the protection of girls from genital mutilation, particularly in the context of efforts to promote collective abandonment of the practice at community level.
Saleema is a word that means whole, healthy in body and mind, unharmed, intact, pristine, and untouched, in a God-given condition.
UNICEF would like to acknowledge the generous contribution of the United Kingdom and Canada to the protection of women and girls in Sudan through Sudan Free of Female Genital Mutilation Programme.
