ASMAA FATHI

Cairo-Human rights, women’s organizations and groups have been holding a variety of activities to mark the Egypt's National Day for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) observed annually on June 14 to highlight the struggle the rights violations against girls.

Their claims have nothing to do with science

Egyptian women have been facing a retrograde society despite over a century of struggle. Ideas that justified the abuse of girls' bodies and cutting and other procedures that injure female genital organs for non-medical reasons claiming they protect women and girls from "immorality," has nothing to do with science or reality and is just a justification for an awful crime.  The 14th of June was chosen as the national day for the elimination of FGM in Egypt in 2008 to commemorate the death of a 12-year-old girl called “Boudor” who passed away after being subjected to FGM in 2007.

 Bodour Shaker, who lived in Minya governorate, died because of an anesthetic overdose on June 14, 2007.

 Women’s issues and the anti-FGM movement

The Center For Egyptian Women's Legal Assistance (CEWLA) held an awareness-raising workshop on female genital mutilation and its negative consequences as part of a project to combat violence against women in cooperation with the Norwegian Embassy with the participation of 26 young men and girls.

Training consultant Ola Moussa spoke to NuJINHA made a speech about the risks of FGM, as well as its physical and psychological effects on women during the awareness workshop. Speaking about the National Day for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation, she stressed that FGM is a crime against girls.  

Online activity by the New Woman Association

The New Woman Foundation (NWF) held an online lecture on sexual education against female genital mutilation on June 14. One of the most significant possible strategies to cope with this phenomenon, according to the association, is to focus on sexual education for young people of both sexes, noting that 82% of female genital mutilations are performed by doctors.

Members of the Tadwein Center for Gender Studies took to the streets

On June 14, the members of the Tadwein Center for Gender Studies took to the streets to raise awareness of FGM. They told the people the risks of FGM and its physical and psychological effects on women.

Dr. Dr. Randa Fakhr El-Din, a reproductive and psychological health consultant at the Tadwein, believes that the solution to the FGM lies in working to eliminate this culturally accepted habit in Egyptian society.