National Workshop in Addis Ababa Addresses Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) with Multifaceted Approaches
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia–September 21, 2023: A significant workshop, convened in the heart of
Addis Ababa, is actively addressing the critical issue of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM/C).
This pioneering event signifies a collaborative effort orchestrated by ActionAid, Amref, and
Options, with unwavering support and partnership from the Federal Ministry of Women and
Social Affairs.
The workshop commenced with a warm welcome delivered by Genet Shume, Program Manager
of ActionAid Ethiopia, who set the tone for the proceedings. Genet emphasized the workshop’s
primary objective: to foster discussions, exchange experiences, share best practices, and reach a
unified consensus to eradicate FGM.
She underscored the workshop’s role as a platform for exchanging best practices, sharing
experiences, and advocating for human rights, with a particular focus on combatting the harmful
practice of FGM among girls.
In a pivotal keynote address, Mr. Sileshi Tadesse, Director of Women Mobilization and
Participation Enhancement at the Federal
Ministry of Women and Social Affairs
(MOWSA), unveiled the ministry’s ongoing
process of amending its women’s policy,
currently under review by the Ministry of Plan.
These amendments, once ratified, are poised to have a profound impact on women’s rights. Additionally, tools for assessing societal attitudes toward harmful practices, with an emphasis on FGM, have been meticulously prepared for implementation. Mr. Sileshi underscored the close collaboration between the ministry and national alliance members, as well as national and international NGOs dedicated to addressing FGM. MOWSA also presented the findings of its research dedicated to this issue. Several partners and alliance members, including the Population Media Center-Ethiopia (PMC-E), Gender Adolescence Global Evidence (GAGE), and TGG-ALM, shared their invaluable experiences and best practices.
Dr. Hailegnaw Eshete, Country Director of Population Media
Center-Ethiopia, highlighted the national impact of PMC’s
contribution to the national effort towards the fight against FGM.
He expressed unwavering commitment to achieving zero tolerance
for FGM and outlined PMC’s role in raising awareness through
research-based, inter-educational radio serial dramas, radio talk
shows, community mobilization campaigns, and the distribution of
informative printed materials. Dr. Hailegnaw emphasized that
PMC-E’s multi-lingual radio talk shows were thoughtfully
designed to educate and engage listeners, forming a pivotal
component of a nationwide communication campaign addressing
this pressing issue. Statistics provided by Ministry of Women and
Social Affairs (MOWSA) indicate that, at the national level, 47% of girls aged 15-17 are married before reaching 18 (EDHS 2016). Surprisingly, among the participants aged 15 to 49 included in the study, 65% of females had undergone circumcision or mutilation during childhood.
Kesis Mitiku Kentiba, representing the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church Archdiocese, addressed
the church’s unequivocal stance on FGM. Kesis Mitiku asserted that female genital mutilation
(FGM) finds no acceptance or endorsement within the teachings of the Bible, and he emphasized
that the church does not advocate for the mutilation of females. Additionally, he proposed that
the terminology used to describe this practice should be reconsidered. He suggested that referring
to it as “female genital mutilation” inadvertently legitimizes the practice, and instead
recommended using the term “distorting the female body” to accurately convey its harmful
nature and encourage condemnation. Participants from diverse backgrounds shared their
experiences and ideas on FGM acquired during the workshop.
The workshop participants organized into
five groups to deliberate on way forwards to
end FGM. They focused on opportunities,
challenges, and collaborative strategies to
combat this harmful practice. Media
professionals pledged their support in collaboration with the FGM National
Alliance, prioritizing this critical cause. The event garnered active participation from religious leaders, prominent public figures, peace ambassadors, invited guests, community elders, Abba
Gedas, Hade Siqes, civil society representatives, media personnel, and individuals deeply
concerned about the issue of FGM. The collective dedication of these diverse participants
reflects a growing commitment to eliminating this harmful practice from Ethiopian society.