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Campaign to End FGM in Iraqi Kurdistan
Sees Success
29.9.2011
By Suaad Awrahman
Sharef - WADI via ekurd.net |
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September 29, 2011
SULAIMANIYAH,
Kurdistan region 'Iraq', — Wadi recently did a
survey on the rate of FGM in Garmyan region, where
the whole campaign against this practice once
started in 2004. Since then these teams are visiting
dozens of villages, meet the people, show
educational films and lobby against FGM. This
campaign obviously pays out and is proving that such
a long term approach is successful: The latest data
collected indicates that only 23 of 698 girls aged
1-14 years have been circumcised in 2011.
Seven years ago a preliminary survey conducted by a
WADI team in 40 villages of the Garmyan region
shocked everyone when it uncovered that 903 out of
1534 women and girls were circumcised. The spreading
of this news in the local and international media
provoked suspicion towards our teams, and pressure
was put on them to hinder their work.
Thanks to the support of those who trusted our
efforts, we were able to continue our work with the
financial and moral aid from charities,www.ekurd.netthe
free press and international organizations. Strong
and important support came from the youth groups
that actively engaged with their communities to
oppose FGM and were willing to take up great
challenges in order to eliminate this harmful
practice.
On the 21st of June, 2011 the Kurdish Parliament
prohibited FGM by
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law, with punishment of imprisonment and financial
fines on perpetrators of the practice.
This law is no spontaneous event, but the result of
extensive campaigns, petitions and pressure from
local and international groups, especially after the
publication of the 2010 Human Rights Watch report
and many other documents on the reality and danger
of FGM in Kurdistan by WADI and other organizations,
as well as official governmental agencies in the
region.
The law is a success, yet it is important to notice
the means for its implimitations are not yet clear.
The Family Violence Bill through which FGM is
prohibited has not yet been advertised on the
official (governmental) sites and the Union of
Islamic Scholars as well as conservative bodies have
opposed the implementation of the law and demand its
abolishment.
This means the struggle to combat FGM and other
forms of violence in this society will continue.
Good news such as the statistic mentioned in the
opening of this article delights us and will
encourage us to carry on our campaign until we end
FGM in Kurdistan.
Translated by: Hemen Sabir
Suaad Awrahman Sharef, WADI women project
coordinator.
For further information please visit:
www.stopfgmkurdistan.org & www.wadinet.de
Copyright © 2011 ekurd.net
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