Please visit the ENDVAW website at http://www.endvaw.org or sign
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________________________________________________________________

C O N T E N T S
- Introduction
- Survey on FGM Information Gaps
- FGM Demographic Data Available on CD-Rom
- Children's Book on FGM
- Film: The Day I Will Never Forget
- ENDVAW Database Resources
- Articles & Reports Available on the Web
- Organizations
- World Health Organization Resources
- Job Opening (South Africa)
________________________________________________________________

++++++++++++
INTRODUCTION
++++++++++++

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) definition, FGM
consists of all procedures involving partial or total removal of
external female genitalia or any other injury to female genital
organs. WHO estimates that 100-130 million women and girls
worldwide have undergone some form of FGM, and that every year 2
million more are at risk of having the rite performed.

FGM is practiced in 26 African countries, as well as some areas
in the Middle East, Asia and South America. Although the prac-
tice is banned in most of these countries, it flourishes, with
countries like Somalia where the FGM rate is nearly 100 percent,
and Ethiopia where the rate is over 90 per cent. Rough estimates
suggest that about half the women in Africa have undergone this
rite.

Progress towards ending FGM has been mixed. Amid encouraging re-
ports from organizations like TOSTAN in Senegal where over 1,000
villages have made public declarations to end the practice, and
Kenya where the use of alternate rites has been somewhat suc-
cessful, come reports of an increasing number of girls at risk
in the West, where due to the recent influx of new immigrants
who bring these traditions with them, many thousands of girls
are at risk. In response, the practice has been banned in the
UK, France, Canada, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden and Belgium.
Additionally some European countries and Canada have also made
it illegal for parents to have their children taken abroad to be
circumcised. In the United States, only New York, Minnesota and
North Dakota have passed laws against FGM specifically.

There are both legal and cultural barriers to ending the prac-
tice. Parents are also beginning to cut their children at
younger ages fearing that once the girls are older, they might
rebel against the practice.

This special issue of ENDVAW Update includes articles, books,
documentaries, and links to organizational websites related to
FGC/FGM.

******************************
Survey on FGM Information Gaps
******************************

Population Reference Bureau, together with Family Health Inter-
national (FHI), the Manoff Group, PATH, and Population Council,
is collecting information on behalf of the U.S. Agency for In-
ternational Development (USAID) on what information gaps exist
with regard to female genital cutting. If you are working in
this area, please take a minute to answer ten brief questions
about the information you use concerning female genital cutting
and the information gaps you believe exist. It will help guide
these groups in making recommendations to USAID on what, if any-
thing, needs to be done to make the work of individuals and or-
ganizations possible. Click on this link, which will take you to
the survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=19146434664

*****************************************
FGM Demographic Data Available on CD-Rom
*****************************************

MEASURE DHS:
Female Genital Cutting: Findings from the Demographic and Health
Surveys Program summarizes research results from the Central Af-
rican Republic, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Eritrea, Mali, northern
Sudan, and Yemen. The CD-ROM contains:

-Introductory Text to DHS data collection on FGC
-All FGC chapters including tables and texts from DHS final re-
ports for 16 French and English Speaking countries, which con-
ducted surveys between 1990 and 2002.
-Women's and men's questionnaires on FGC used in DHS surveys
-All DHS reports on FGC to date (some are available in both
French and English)

Contact Tonya Gary:
Macro International
11785 Beltsville Drive, Suite 300
Calverton, MD 20705, USA
Tel: + 1-301-572-0200
Fax: + 1-572-0999
mailto:[email protected]
For a copy of the CD, mailto:[email protected]

***********************
Children's Book on FGM
***********************

No Laughter Here
By Rita Williams-Garcia

Akilah can't wait for her best friend, Victoria, to return to
Queens from a summer trip to Nigeria, Victoria's homeland, where
she had been taken for a big celebration to commemorate her pas-
sage into adulthood. But Akilah is shocked by Victoria's behav-
ior when she does come home. She won't leave her house or speak
to Akilah and she never, ever laughs any more. When Akilah
learns the shocking truth about why Victoria's parents took her
to Nigeria for the summer and what happened to her while she was
there, Akilah begins to understand Victoria's strange behavior.

This coming of age book explores the transformation of two girls
from childhood to young adulthood in two very different ways.
The book is a surprisingly well written account of a very deli-
cate issue [FGM], one that is often not talked about, especially
with younger children. Garcia does not attempt to dilute the is-
sues, but deals with it in a sensitive and accessible manner.

For ages 12 and up.

For a list of sites where you can purchase the book go to:
http://www.harpercollins.com/catalog/order_xml.asp?isbn=0688162487

***********************************
Film: The Day I Will Never Forget
***********************************

A film by Kim Longinotto

"The Day I Will Never Forget" is a feature documentary that
delves into the traditions of female circumcision and marriage,
and the pioneering women who are bravely reversing the tradi-
tion. Set in Kenya, the film gives a candid look at the issue,
and does not try to protect the viewer from the more horrific
aspects of the tradition. Women speak openly about the cultural
significance. Young women give testimonials about the painful
aftermath of their trauma. Elderly matriarchs stubbornly stand
by the practice and convince the young girls of their tribe to
undergo the rite of passage into womanhood.

Throughout the documentary, viewers are inspired by the strength
of the girls and women who are fighting this tradition. The film
maker talks to 16 girls who (successfully) take their parents to
court to obtain injunctions against them to prevent being cut.
She also follows Simalo, a fifteen year old who was cut, then
married to a much older man who had raped her, as she goes home
for the first time after running away.

Fardhosa Ali Mohamed, a nurse who has spent her life trying to
mitigate the effects of FGM on girls having sex for the first
time and one women delivering babies through their scar tissue,
is a similar tower of strength.

We see her with a young bride, Amina, trying to "re-open" her so
that sex will be possible, but the girl is terrified, and cannot
undergo the procedure. Fardhosa suggests that it be done under
general anaesthetic, but her new husband won't allow it. He
would become a laughing stock, he tells the nurse. "I'd rather
do it myself." Fardhosa, incredibly, stays calm. If he changes
his mind, she says, the door is always open.

The film takes its name from a poem written in English by
Fouzia, aged eight. After Fouzia heard a discussion about cir-
cumcision being recorded for the film, she approached Longinotto
and urged her to come home with them. Once there, she recited
her heart breaking poem to her mother on camera. Then, still on
camera, she tells her mother she will forgive her what she has
done only if she promises to spare her sister.

The film gives a human face to a very inhuman procedure. It does
not allow the viewer to feel superior at any point, rather it
inspires the viewer with the strength of the brave women and
girls that grace the screen.

A film by Kim Longinotto
2002, 92 minutes
Color, VHS 35mm
England

Available from:
Women Make Movies
Film and Video Department
462 Broadway, Suite 500 Q
New York, N.Y. 10013, USA
Tel: + 1-212-925-0606
Fax: + 1-212-925-2052
mailto:[email protected]
http://www.wmm.com

**************************
ENDVAW Database Resources
**************************

The database on the ENDVAW website has just been updated.
We have added:

125 new POPLINE records
219 new organizations
26 new materials

The database now contains a total of over 7,200 records

Search the database yourself:
http://db.jhuccp.org/content/advanced.htm

- All the resources on FGM in the ENDVAW database:
http://db.jhuccp.org/dbtw-
wpd/exec/dbtwpcgi.exe?BU=http%3A%2F%2Fdb.jhuccp..org&QF0=KWM&QI0
=female_genital_mutilation&TN=women&AC=QBE_QUERY&MR=10&RF=short&
DF=FullRecord&NP=3

(repair the broken URL's by copying into your browser's address
window)

- Posters related to FGM/FGC:
http://db.jhuccp.org/dbtw-
wpd/exec/dbtwpcgi.exe?AC=GET_RECORD&XC=/dbtw-
wpd/exec/dbtwpcgi.exe&BU=http%3A%2F%2Fdb.jhuccp.org%2Fcontent%2F
advanced.htm&TN=women&SN=AUTO19036&SE=1860&RN=0&MR=20&RF=Short&DF=
FullRecord&RL=0&DL=0&NP=3&ID=&MF=&MQ=&TI=0

- POPLINE abstracts on FGM:
http://db.jhuccp.org/dbtw-
wpd/exec/dbtwpcgi.exe?AC=GET_RECORD&XC=/dbtw-
wpd/exec/dbtwpcgi.exe&BU=http%3A%2F%2Fdb.jhuccp.org%2Fcontent%2F
advanced.htm&TN=women&SN=AUTO20740&SE=1862&RN=0&MR=20&RF=Short&DF=
FullRecord&RL=0&DL=0&NP=3&ID=&MF=&MQ=&TI=0

- Organizations working on FGM:
http://db.jhuccp.org/dbtw-
wpd/exec/dbtwpcgi.exe?AC=GET_RECORD&XC=/dbtw-
wpd/exec/dbtwpcgi.exe&BU=http%3A%2F%2Fdb.jhuccp.org%2Fcontent%2F
advanced.htm&TN=women&SN=AUTO21165&SE=1863&RN=0&MR=20&RF=Short&DF=
FullRecord&RL=0&DL=0&NP=3&ID=&MF=&MQ=&TI=0

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Articles & Reports Available on the Web
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Almroth, A. et al. Male complications of female genital mutila-
tion.
Social Science & Medicine 53(11):1455 -1460 (December 2001). Ab-
stract available online at:
www.med.uio.no/ism/inthel/foko/abstracts2.html

While the physical, psychological, and economic impact of FGM on
Sudanese men pales in comparison to the pain and complications
suffered by women, the authors feel that these issues "may open
new possibilities to counteract the practice of FGM. " FGM-
related problems reported by 59 men included penetration diffi-
culties; penis wounds, bleeding and inflammation; psychological
problems; desire to hurt their wives or make them suffer; de-
creased sexual desire and enjoyment; costs of associated medical
care; and problems after reinfibulation.

Chege, J.N, Askew, I., and Liku, J. An Assessment of the Alter-
native Rites Approach for Encouraging Abandonment of Female
Genital Mutilation in Kenya.
New York, New York: FRONTIERS Project, The Population Council
(September 2001).
Available at:
www.popcouncil.org/pdfs/frontiers/FR_FinalReports/Kenya_FGC.pdf

This study of PATH and MYWO's Alternative Rite of Passage Pro-
jects in three districts thoroughly explores the dynamics of
their processes. The report draws attention to those families
who are abandoning the practice and participating in the prac-
tice of FGM in the project sites, and concludes that "the combi-
nation of intensive community sensitisation about FGM and offer-
ing an Alternative Rite have clearly played a role in the atti-
tudinal and behavioural changes that are occurring in the pro-
ject sites." The report notes the difficulty in evaluating and
developing a strict model for replication given the variability
of socio-cultural reasons for practicing FGM, the role of public
ceremonies, and the most appropriate format for the rituals. The
report stresses the importance of "a preceding or accompanying
process of sensitisation in which an attitudinal change has to
have occurred."

Larsen, U. and Okonofua, F.E. Female circumcision and obstetric
complications.
International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics 77(3):255 to
265 (June 2002).
Available at:
www.womenshealth-elsevier.com/doc/journals/pdf/IJGO%2077%203%20Larsen%20...

This study investigates the effects of FGM by researching the
birth outcomes of 1,851 Nigerian women, 45 percent of whom had
undergone type I or II FGM. Logistical regression analysis (in-
cluding multiple socioeconomic and cultural indicators) found
that women with FGM had significantly higher risks of tearing
and stillbirths, with no significant difference between types I
and II. The authors discuss possible reasons for the difference
between these findings and other similar studies that found no
relationship between FGM and obstetric complications.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Organizations (on the Web)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

African Canadian Legal Clinic:
http://www.aclc.net/submissions/fgm_billc_27..html

African Women's Health Center:
http://www.brighamandwomens.org/africanwomenscenter/default.asp

The African Women's Health Practice is located at the Brigham
and Women's Hospital. Its mission is to holistically improve the
health of refugee women who have undergone female genital cut-
ting. The AWHP provides culturally and linguistically appropri-
ate obstetric, gynecologic and reproductive health care to Afri-
can immigrants and refugees. It provides access, understanding
and community to refugee women who have had long- term complica-
tions from this tradition and who seek access to improved repro-
ductive health care.

Nawal Nour, MD, MPH
75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115
Tel: +1-617-732-4740
Fax: +1-617-975-0966
mailto:[email protected]

Amnesty International:
http://www.amnesty.org/ailib/intcam/femgen/fgm1.htm

Female Genital Cutting Education and Networking Project:
http://www.fgmnetwork.org

Has a set of media resources including documentaries, educa-
tional media and mention of FGC related material on national
television. Resources are available in several languages.

FORWARD (Foundation for Women's Research and Development)
http://www.forward.dircon.co.uk

FORWARD is the leading voluntary organisation in the United
Kingdom working towards elimination of Female Genital Mutilation
(FGM) worldwide. It provides the principal resource for FMG
awareness training of health, education, child protection and
social services professionals in the United Kingdom.
Tel: +44-20-7725-2606
Fax: +44-20-7725-2796
mailto:[email protected]

ICRW- International Center for Research on Women:
http://www.icrw.org
Female Genital Cutting: Breaking the Silence, Enabling Change.
Masterson, Julia; Swanson, Julie Hanson. ICRW Research Report.
2000.

Discusses three projects in Egypt, the Gambia and Senegal that
successfully supported community efforts to end FGC.
http://www.icrw.org/docs/FGCfinalpdf.pdf

Empowering Villages to End Female Genital Cutting: Community
Programs in Senegal. ICRW Report-in-Brief. 1999.
http://catalog.icrw.org/docs/ribs/TOSTAN.pdf

Ending Female Genital Cutting: A Positive Deviance Approach in
Egypt. ICRW Report-in-Brief. 1999.
http://catalog.icrw.org/docs/ribs/Egypt1_rib.pdf

Rites of Passage: Responses to Female Genital Cutting in the
Gambia. ICRW Report-in-Brief. 1999.
http://catalog.icrw.org/docs/ribs/BAFROW.pdf

INTACT Network: International Network to Analyze, Communicate
and Transform the Campaign Against FGC/FGM/FC:
http://intact-network.net

INTACT's aim is to promote and disseminate evidence-based re-
search and to actively engage donors and local actors -- govern-
ments and civil society organizations -- in a dialogue around
applying collective learning to accelerate positive social
change.

The website includes a page dedicated to Research Papers, Arti-
cles and Abstracts
http://www.intact-network.net/main2/research.htm
as well as a resource bank at
http://intact-network.net/main2/research/resourcebank.asp
that includes bibliographies to materials published worldwide on
this issue. It also includes Recommended Readings, Videos and
Websites on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

From the INTACT Resources page:
http://intact-network.net/main2/document/fullarticlepdf/gtzrecreadings.pdf

(Courtesy of GTZ, Eschborn 2002: a collection of annotated
texts, videos and internet links providing an overview of the
most important publications as well as selected videos and rele-
vant websites on the theme of FGM. In both French and English)

IPPF selected resources on FGM:
http://www.ippf.org/fgm/
The site includes an 8-page bibliography listing books, reports
and journal articles on FGM.

Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH) Resources:
Female Genital Mutilation: The Facts:
http://www.path.org/files/FGM-The-Facts.htm

Reproductive Health Outlook (RHO)
http://www.rho.org/html/hthps-b-01.html#fgc
Reproductive health website produced by PATH. RHO is especially
designed for reproductive health program managers and decision-
makers working in developing countries and low-resource set-
tings.

Promotion of Initiatives to Eradicate Female Genital Mutilation
(FGM)
http://www.gtz.de/fgm
Supraregional project, funded by the German Ministry of Coopera-
tion and Development and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft
für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ)

RAINBO*Research, Action and Information Network for the Bodily
Integrity of Women: http://www.rainbo.org/

Rising Daughters Aware:
http://www.risk.org.se/sidor/FGM_videos.htm
Has a listing of videos on female circumcision.

USAID Policy on Female Genital Cutting (FGC)
http://www.usaid.gov/policy/ads/200/200mac.pdf

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION RESOURCES
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

WHO FGM Page: http://www.who.int/docstore/frh-whd/FGM/

WHO: Female Genital Mutilation Programmes to Date: What Works
and What Doesn't. Geneva: WHO, Department of Women's Health Sys-
tems and Community Health (1999). Available at:
www.who.int/docstore/frh-whd/PDFfiles/Programmes%20to%20Date.pdf

This comprehensive document is based on a literature review,
survey data from 88 anti-FGM organizations, and country assess-
ments and case studies from Burkina Faso, Egypt, Ethiopia,
Kenya, Mali, Senegal, and Uganda. It contains 19 detailed recom-
mendations for effective approaches to FGM as well as extensive
statistical and country-specific information.

WHO: Management of pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum pe-
riod in the presence of Female Genital Mutilation (PDF file
273kb)
http://www.who.int/docstore/frh-
whd/PDFfiles/Management%20of%20pregnancy%20in%20the%20presence%2
0of%20FGM.pdf

This document, a report of a WHO Technical Consultation, has
been issued as a technical document outlining the major health
complications of FGM associated with pregnancy, childbirth and
the postpartum period. Service barriers and other problems in
providing essential care as well as future research and training
needs in relation to the problem are also discussed.

WHO. Islamic Ruling on Male and Female Circumcision. The Right
Path to Health: Health Education through Religion No 8 [Non-
serial publication of the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern
Mediterranean]. Geneva: WHO (1996). More information available
at:
www.emro.who.int/Publications/HealthEdReligion/CircumcisionEn/

Three noted Islamic scholars explain how female circumcision is
not supported by their religion. One scholar even concludes FGM
is "an odious crime." The practice of male circumcision is sup-
ported.

WHO/UNICEF/UNFPA. Female genital mutilation: a joint
WHO/UNICEF/UNFPA statement. Geneva: WHO (1997). Ordering infor-
mation available at:
www.who.int/docstore/frh-whd/publications/p-fgm1.htm

This concise, 20-page document outlines the position of these
United Nations agencies on the issue of FGM. While keeping the
cultural context in mind, the document systematically portrays
FGM as an unacceptable practice that must be eliminated. The hu-
man rights basis for this approach is explained, and a wealth of
information follows, including an overview of the types and
global prevalence, the physical and psychological effects, rele-
vant international agreements, and an 18-point plan of action.

++++++++++++
JOB OPENING
++++++++++++

Title: National Director

Organization: National Network On Violence Against Women, South
Africa

The National Network on Violence Against Women (NNVAW) is a non-
profit organisation (NPO) consisting of member organisations,
individuals and government departments around the country. The
NNVAW is a leading collaborative organisation in South Africa
whose sole aim is to bring together organisations into a collec-
tive, to fight and end Violence Against Women (VAW). The
strength of the NNVAW centres on the co-ordination and facilita-
tion of sharing of information, resources, capacity, human re-
source and vision. The core business of the NNVAW therefore re-
volves around, Networking, Lobbying and advocacy, Capacity
Building, Research and Information and Monitoring and Evaluation

The NNVAW is inviting applications for the position of the Na-
tional Director based in Pretoria (South Africa). Preferably,
the successful candidate will be able to take up the post imme-
diately and will perform the following duties:

-Execute strategic direction on the development of the organisa-
tion's core business
-Assist in the formulating of the strategic direction of the
organisation
-Develop and implement communication and marketing strategy
-Market and manage external relationships
-Manage the day to day activities of the NNVAW
-Will be the link between the board, Executive Committee and the
management of the NNVAW
-Will produce quarterly and annual reports

The successful candidate will possess the following skills and
competencies:
-NGO Background
-Gender Activism and Advocacy
-Experience of Financial Management,
-Posses knowledge of funders and Fund Raising,
-Networking Skills
-Excellent speaking, writing and interpersonal skills
-Good working knowledge of Microsoft suite.
-Facilitation Skills,
-Demonstrated experience in leading teams of staff.

Qualifications: Degree, Diploma or Equivalent Experience in man-
agement, preferably Gender Focused NGO environment.

Applications including C.V to be faxed, emailed or posted to the
address below:

Administrator
P.O. Box 72957
Lynnwood Ridge 0040
Tel. +27-12 321 4959
Fax: +27-12 321 3119
mailto:[email protected]
Contact Persons: Patrick Mukoya or Melanie Knight