A blog by Dr. Nina Smart

“December is a month of miracles, when many families around the world celebrate together, share gifts and renew their faith through meaningful rituals that affirm beliefs.  In many homes this includes the preparations for a girl’s ‘fixing’ or ‘initiation’ or ‘getting her ready for marriage.’  Such expressions encompass the procedure known worldwide as female genital mutilation (FGM).  The shame associated with not having girls ‘fixed’ falls on the family name, specifically on the father or other male relatives.  The procedure, a documented human rights violation, is not cheap; in parts of Sub-Sahara Africa it can be as high as the equivalent of two years’ worth of a girl’s education.

Photo taken following the FGM Presentation at the University of Southern Caribbean (USC) with students during Illumination Week

It is often forgotten that in London, Los Angeles, Lagos, Freetown, Nairobi or New Dehli, the woman who does the cutting of the genitals has to be paid well so that she will do a good job and cut the right amount of flesh to meet the local expectations.  Not seen as a harmful practice by the parents or grandparents who organise the important event, the details of how much must be paid, who will do it, how long it will take for the girl to heal after she’s cut and how to most effectively hide it from outsiders are considered.  Christmas vacation is the perfect time for this to happen not only in the countries where FGM is prevalent, but also in Europe and the Americas.  Families from many practicing countries travel to visit relatives for longer periods of time, and it has been discovered that ‘vacation cutting’ has become a trend.  Although challenging to detect before departure, governments have made specific efforts to protect girls prior to them experiencing the pain of the cutter’s knife.

Photo: Anti-FGM Activist Ann Marie Caulker with girls at the vocational center sponsored in the past by SWF and SI Downey.

Having escaped FGM just before the ‘initiation’ season started in West Africa in 1991, I am commited to breaking the silence on the danger girls face during this month of festivities. ‘Tis the season for FGM’ in Sierra Leone, ‘Tis the Season for FGM’ in the USA, with the recent ruling of the doctor acused of cutting girls at a clinic in Michigan, ‘Tis the Season for FGM’ in the UK, as girls are being pressured by their peers to succum to the practice.

Photo taken following the FGM presentation at the Morris Foundation in Pune, India

Soroptimists have a fantastic opportunity to offer a platform to human rights activists and help raise awareness of FGM through our clubs and membership.  Educating ourselves and the commuities we serve on the harmful effects of FGM, is a critical first step that is needed more than ever to help us move in the right direction as we work to end FGM.  In honour of Zero Tolerance to FGM day Soroptimist International of Europe (SIE) gave clear recommendations on how we as Soroptimists can help break the silence.  We must include men in the conversation and we must highlight the economic aspect of the practice in order for us to help protect one girl, one hundred girls, a thousand girls today!

As we work to end violence against women and girls, let all Soroptimists stand firm and stand together with others who have created trusting partnerships with local activists and let us empower them to effectively do their work, and end FGM.

This the season to END FGM!”

Featured image: Abandoned radio station in Kamakuye, Sierra Leone.