Family Planning Associations and Female Genital Mutilation - Female Genital and Sexual Mutilation - Brief Article

WIN News, Spring, 2002

FROM 'IPPF MEDICAL BULLETIN', INTERNATIONAL PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION (IPPF)

Regent's College, Inner Circle, Regent's Park, London NW1 4NS, UNITED KINGDOM

fax: 44 (0)20 7487 79501;

e-mail: info@ippf.org

"THE ROLE OF FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATIONS (FPAs)

"At the community and national level, FPAs have an important role to play in the elimination of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). FPAs should be aware that some of these practices have deep cultural roots and should gather information on the prevalence and characteristics of FGM in their own countries. Having obtained factual information and with knowledge of the social and cultural background, they should review their current activities.

In addition, FPAs should collaborate with other governmental and non-governmental organisations working on the issue, to identify how they can contribute to stopping the practice through advocacy, information, education, and research.

The IPPF Charter on Sexual and Reproductive Rights should be used as an advocacy tool to lobby for changes in legislation that protect the human rights of women and girls and eliminate all harmful and! or discriminatory practices.

Where appropriate, broader programmes aimed at improving the reproductive health of women should include discussion of FGM and action to stop the practice. FPAs should provide sympathetic care to women and girls who present with any kind of problem related to FOM, and use every opportunity to counsel women and their partners, and parents of girl children, about the harmful effects of perpetuating this practice.

In countries where FGM is widely practised, FPAs should be equipped to provide counselling and care for the physical and psychological complications of FGM. Where FPAs are unable to provide comprehensive core, they should refer women and girls for specialist care.

Women who have been subjected to FGM and are suffering from chronic complications may require specialist counselling and/or surgical treatment.

A pregnant woman whose mutilation may pose serious risks during childbirth should be advised to have her delivery in a clinical setting where possible complications can be properly managed.

Women with psychosexual complications should be recognised and given appropriate counselling. Young women and their partners may require pre-marital counselling."

EDITORS NOTE:

WIN NEWS would like to congratulate IPPF for printing this advice to their affiliates in Africa and other family planning groups after more than 22 years of silence on the subject! For years IPPF has not even mentioned FGM; the above publication mostly goes to professionals, rather than those working in the field. IPPF Headquarters in London stated repeatedly to WIN NEWS when we publicized the World Health Organization recommendations on FOM that FGM was not their concern but an "isolated practice" that had nothing to do with their work.

Indeed, IPPF at first refused to even report on the WHO -World Health Organization- Seminar on Traditional Practices in 1979 where specific recommendations made both for governments and NGOs peopose what to do to prevent and stop FGM. WIN NEWS first sent IPPF these groundbreaking recommendations soon after the Seminar in 1979 but IPPF did not distribute them until a year later and finally printed an "edited" version of recommendations: But the IPPF version could be interpreted to that FGM should be medicalized - and this was sent our worldwide. When I pointed out their mistake it took another year to print a 'correction' out of context of only the sentence involved. Ever since - that is since the 1980s - IPPF has failed to discuss FGM with their affiliates in Africa.

Though the above article finally states the facts and encourages action by their African affiliates, it is time to ask IPPF if - or not - they have encouraged and assisted their affiliates in Africa in developing any preventive programs? What has and is IPPF doing to support (belatedly) the recommendations of WHO and what they published above? What exactly are they DOING to support their words with ACTIONS AND FUNDING to assist their Affiliates in working to stop FGM?