The Campaign: Stop FGM in Iraqi-Kurdistan
In the few years since it has been launched, the campaign Stop FGM in Kurdistan has created the conditions for an effective struggle against female genital mutilation (FGM) in Kurdish northern Iraq.
Today, people discuss FGM openly in the newspapers, in radio and TV shows and on the streets. It has not always been this way. Through awareness and advocacy initiatives, the campaign Stop FGM in Kurdistan succeeded in breaking a taboo, making FGM a widely discussed issue. Information is now available to everyone in northern Iraq about the consequences of FGM: pain and suffering, physical and psychological harms life-long anxiety and loss of ability to feel sexual sensations. FGM is now a recognized problem for the Kurdish public and for the local authorities.
A broad network
Stop FGM in Kurdistan is a network of local and international organizations, human rights activists, artists and journalists. They are all committed to ending FGM.
For this reason, the network organizes public and prevention work, engages in political lobbying and works on the ground. For instance, the aid-association WADI is running several mobile teams, providing assistance to women across region.
International awareness
On an international level, the existence of FGM in Iraq has been ignored for many years. Female genital mutilation has been commonly described as an ‘African disease’. Thanks to Stop FGM in Kurdistan, this approach is now changing.
In 2009, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) reported about FGM in Kurdistan for the first time. UNICEF/Arbil followed. Shortly before, WADI had published the first findings from a comprehensive study by the association, indicating that FGM is prevalent in almost all parts of Iraqi Kurdistan. This study, published in 2010, also shows that FGM is equally widespread in towns and in the countryside. Human Rights Watch is expected to publish their own survey soon, confirming the results found by WADI.
Today, female genital mutilation in Kurdistan is internationally recognized beyond dispute. All future reports about FGM worldwide will also have to include Kurdistan. Maps of the FGM-affected regions are currently being revised. Those who still call FGM an “African problem” are corrected by other, better-informed. This recognition has become possible thanks to the campaign.
Prospects
Our fight continues: still, the Kurdish Regional Parliament has not ratified the bills on a legal ban of FGM introduced in 2008. The bill is scheduled to be discussed in the parliament during its next legislative period.
WADI also offers now awareness training in the region of Kirkuk, where due to security reasons it was previously not possible to address such a sensitive issue. In cooperation with the local NGO Pana, WADI is now running a mobile anti-FGM team there.
We have also received information from the Iranian parts of Kurdistan, indicating that mutilation rates there are at similar levels to Kurdish northern Iraq. The information from Iran also suggests that FGM is spread well beyond the borders of the Kurdish regions there. Even Sunni Arab and some purely Shiite areas seem to be affected.
Your donation will make a difference
To hold to the success achieved by this campaign so far, and to advance further, we need your support: any donation will make a difference.
Open discussions do not necessarily bring people to quit their “tradition”, especially in the rural areas. More awareness and education is needed, while the government, too, needs to take action. The campaign Stop FGM in Kurdistan supports the public movement lobbying the government to act.
