Gams - Progress And Activity Report 1999 - Brief Article

WIN News, Spring, 2000

GAMS - GROUPE FEMMES POUR L'ABOLITION DES MUTILATIONS SEXUELLES

66 rue des Grandes-Champs, 75020 Paris, FRANCE

GAMS is affiliated with the Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices affecting the Health of Women and Children

"The activities of GAMS include developing precise statistics on girls and young women from Africa living in France, especially Paris, who are excised or threatened with excision. The work of GAMS is limited to certain areas in the Paris region due to lack of funds. However, the following information is from two Well Baby Clinics (PMI -- Promotion Maternelle Infantile) of Yvelines on the outskirts of Paris which takes care of 30% of African women who live in the area.

PARIS

In 1985,153 girls were examined - 24% (38young girls) of whom were excised. In 1992, the percentage was 4.7% (7 young girls). But since 1993 to the present no girl that came to the clinic was mutilated.

To arrive at these results a physician of the PMI Center, a member of GAMS, together with an interpreter speaking the African languages involved, have engaged in preventive actions since 1985. That is they informed and taught the African women visiting the Center. They explained to the women that the Koran does not require excision and that this procedure may be very dangerous for their children.

The Universal Childbirth Picture Book (of WIN NEWS) which had been translated and adapted by GAMS for their purposes is used with the African women to explain to them the reproductive process: the women take the book along and come back with their questions. Regular meetings for the African women are also organized at the Center to discuss excision and to show the v ideos made by GAMS - La Duperie, Femmes assises sous le couteau, Ma fille ne sera pas excisee, Des Lames contre les femmes and more.

A similar action was followed at the second Health Center with very good results involving again a pediatrician, an interpreter and a baby nurse of the Center: since 1994 not a single case of excision has been found among the African families who visit the Center. (Editor's Note: in France after a woman has a baby she is referred from the hospital to a Well Baby Center (PMI) in her area for health examinations and immunization shots.)

FRANCE

GAMS in this way has been able to follow up on the health of the little girls and prevent excision in the whole area. In 1999 the activities they initiated have been taken on by a series of other clinics and centers where African immigrants live, that also organized meetings on traditional practices.

GAMS also, through their trained interpreters, is following up on the activities and welfare of many African families in the area concerning the health of their girl children by collaborating with other organizations working with immigrants. A number of joint meetings were organized for immigrant groups during 1999 between GAMS and other organizations that are listed in the GAMS report. GAMS also holds regular information meetings at their office as well as at other local meeting places.

Besides meetings, radio and television programs on prevention of Excision are regularly organized as well and articles are published in newspapers and magazines. GAMS also distributes literature and information folders as well as copies of their videos, films and the Childbirth Picture Books. GAMS also works with physicians, researchers, midwives and other professionals as a resource and information center. GAMS collaborates with many African women's organizations in France and in Africa. They are also planning programs in Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali in collaboration with UNICEF and the Foreign Ministry."

THE HOSKEN REPORT: GENITAL AND SEXUAL MUTILATION OF FEMALES

Fourth revised, enlarged edition, 448 pages. By FRAN P. HOSKEN. Published by WIN News

Chapters On: The Health Facts // History // The World Health Organization Seminar in Khartoum // The Politics of FGM: A Conspiracy of Silence // Actions for Change // Statistics, Maps.

Case Histories from: SUDAN, EGYPT, SOMALIA, ETHIOPIA, KENYA, MALI, BURKINA FASO, NIGERIA, SENEGAL, SIERRA LEONE, AFRICAN SURVEY, ARAB PENINSULA, MALAYSIA, INDONESIA, THE WESTERN WORLD. Extensive Bibliography and Footnotes, Economic Facts.