The lancet | 06.03.2010
Reports focus on female genital mutilation in Iraqi Kurdistan
Campaigns against female genital mutilation have mainly targeted African nations, where most...
HUDSON NEW YORK | 03.03.2010
"Such Hadiths Are Not Confirmed To Be Authentic"
The repellent and, in too few countries, prohibited, practice of female genital mutilation (FGM)...
DE Volkskrant | 24.02.2010
Meerderheid van Koerdische vrouwen in Irak is besneden
Besnijdenis van meisjes komt op grote schaal voor onder de Koerden in het noorden... (dutch)
The Kurdish Globe | 21.02.2010
FGM, once a taboo now a breached silence
Encouraged by houses built by the KRG, Kulajo residents return home...
IWPR.NET | 11.02.2010
Female Circumcision Ban Urged
New survey reveals that majority of women in Kurdistan have undergone genital mutilation...
RUDAW.NET | 24.01.2010
HRW: Kurdistan fails to combat female circumcision
The recent 20th annual World Report of Human Rights Watch criticizes the Kurdistan Regional...
STOP FGM BLOG | 21.01.2010
The latest Human Rights Watch World Report
Human Rights Watch mentions FGM in Iraqi-Kurdistan twice in its latest World Report...
KAMEEL AHMADY | 01.2010
A message from Iran
I have a message from Iran for you, written in a simple language, away from the many big words...
BRITISH EMBASSY, IRAQ | 12.2009
Working to Reduce Female Genital Mutilation in Kurdistan
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is recognised internationally as a violation of the human rights...
FACEBOOK ARTICLE | 12.11.2009
Female Genital Mutilation is NOT an African problem!
Due to the tireless work of the organisation WADI e.V. the dimension of Female Genital Mutilation in Middle East becomes more and more clear...
TROUW | 12.11.2009
In deel Koerdistan zijn bijna alle vrouwen besneden
Ruim 85 procent van de vrouwen in het Koerdische noorden van Irak is besneden, uit traditie of in naam van de islam... (dutch)
KURDISH HERALD | 05.09.2009
Ms. Arian Arif – a woman's strength cannot be hidden
If you entered a room full of women, she would instantly be the one who captures your attention...
KURDISH HERALD | 04.08.2009
Combating female genital mutilation in Iraqi Kurdistan
As the first organization in Iraqi Kurdistan to open a women’s shelter, WADI is an authority on women’s issues...
Al arabiya | 23.06.2009
Research: Most of women in Iraqi-Kurdistan are circumcised
Relief organization started campaign against FGM … (arabic)
WARIS DIRIE FD. | 16.06.2009
FGM in Iraq
Northern Iraq - Human rights organisation WADI estimates that 60 % of women in Iraq are subjected to FGM ...
IWPR | 03.06.2009
Combating female circumcision
Activist describes challenges facing those trying to end the controversial practice in Iraqi Kurdistan....
JEZEBEL.COM | 16.04.2009
Nigeriens, Iraqis Denounce Female Genital Mutilation
10 villages in Niger have publicly denounced the practice and...
THE ATLANTIC | 14.04.2009
Face of the day
Iraqi Kurdish four-year-old Shwen screams during her circumcision in Suleimaniyah on April 14, 2009...
EXPONTOMAGAZINE | 3.2009
Dat zal ik mijn eigen dochter niet aandoen
Als Wadi, een vrouwenrechten organisatie, in 2007 met schokkende cijfers over... (dutch)
ROSITAV.COM | 3.2009
Genital mutilation of Southern Kurdistan (3)
With the genital mutilation of girls at an early age is to control the future of women's feelings and sex drive...
RADIO FREE EUROPE | 10.03.2009
Female Genital Mutilation said to be widespread in Iraq's, Irans's Kurdistan
Tahereh vividly remembers the day in her native town of Marivan in Iran when she was circumcised...
HAWLATI | 08.03.2009
The Traditional Celebration of March the 8th is criticized
While In Kurdistan Region the 103 anniversary of the International Women’s Day is celebrated...
TROUW | 05.03.2009
Koerdische media verbreken zwijgen rond vrouwenbesnijdenis
Voorpagina van de Koerdische krant Hawlati. Hawlati neemt het voortouw in de publieke campagne... (dutch)
RADIO NEDERLAND | 20.02.2009
Kurdistán combate la ablación del clítoris
La circuncisión femenina está avanzando en Kurdistán, en el norte de Irak, según un informe … (spanish)
ROSITAV.COM | 2.2009
Genital mutilation of Southern Kurdistan (2)
With the genital mutilation of girls at an early age is to control the future of women's feelings and sex drive...
ROSITAV.COM | 2.2009
Genital mutilation of Southern Kurdistan (1)
With the genital mutilation of girls at an early age is to control the future of women's feelings and sex drive...
18.1.2009
Recently Published Articles about FGM in Iraqi-Kurdistan
We are glad to present here translated excerpts from various Kurdish newspapers, to update you on the...

 

 

 

Reaching Our Main Goal:
Banning FGM Effectively

Since its beginning in 2005, the campaign »Stop FGM in Kurdistan« can already report remarkable success in documentation, public mobilization, launching a legal reform and awareness programs.

Iraqi-Kurdish Media Reports on FGM

The facts on the practice of FGM have been reported in local media, covered by newspapers, debated upon in magazines, radio stations and talk shows. This is an unprecedented appearance of FGM in the public sphere anywhere in the Middle East. This is a major achievement – the secrecy and pretence that FGM does not happen have been an important source of power for the continuation of this practice.

Mobile Teams across the Region

To raise awareness, provide information and practical medical, social and psychological assistance the relief organization WADI runs women-lead local mobile teams. They visit villages and schools, especially in the rural areas of the region, where services are hardly available and the formal education of women is low.

These Mobile Teams visit women and children in remote areas of the regions of Suleymaniyah, Halabja, Pishder, Qandil and Garmyan. The teams consist of either of a physician or a medical assistant and either a social worker or a psychologist. The underlying idea, to deal with the women where they live, is simple and striking.

Documentary for Women in the Villages

The teams provide practical help (medical treatment, medicaments and sanitary goods), life coaching and concrete help for women in distress on the one hand while discussing matters of sexuality and especially FGM on the other. All teams work in close collaboration with local women centers and shelters.

Since 2005, the Mobile Teams are generally focused on FGM. The teams also show a documentary film that has been produced for the (mostly illiterate) women in the villages. The film shows experts like physicians, but also an Islamic cleric who condemns the practice of FGM. It serves as a source of information and as an occasion to get into a discussion with the women at place. Speaking about FGM and their own suffering is only a first but an important step.

Through their long term work, the teams have come to be accepted and trusted in the communities in which they work, and can therefore help brining about change. The teams’ experience has shown that many women are willing and hoping to stop this practice, and do not wish to put their own daughters through this. But they lack the support and organization to resist the strong social pressures to conform. The mobile teams help fulfilling this important need.

Petition and Bill before the Parliament

On the occasion of the International Women’s Day, in March 2007, the campaign »Stop FGM in Kurdistan« published a petition in various local newspapers demanding to legally ban FGM. In only few days, more than 14,000 people signed the petition, among them prominent journalists, artists and writers.

Legal reform

Following the public support to the demand to ban FGM, an experts conference met in April 2007, including lawyers, physicians, women’s right and human rights activists to draft an anti-FGM law. The bill was submitted to the Regional Parliament and is and is hopefully coming to force by 2009.

Study Indicates Alarming Situation

In 2007 we began a data-collection research in all three Governorates of Iraqi-Kurdistan, interviewing more than 1,800 women. Analysis of the data has not been finalized yet, but preliminary findings show that FGM is indeed widespread across the region – ranging from 60% to virtually 100% affected women in different areas.

The operation is done in secret to girls aged 4-12. It is carried out by a women member of the family, a neighbor or a midwife. No anesthetics are used, and instruments are usually not sterile. The girl’s clitoris is being cut and sometimes part of the labia. To stop the bleeding the wound is covered with ash or icy water.

The latest findings from the Pishder region and Raniyah paint a dramatic picture of the situation: in total 95% of the interviewed women and girls are mutilated.

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