A Comprehensive Approach for Communication about Female Genital Mutilation in Egypt

Abstract

This paper describes the development of the model, that is currently used by the Task Force to interact with the grass root audience about the issue of female genital mutilation (FGM). The FGM Task Force is constantly attempting to improve and modify its educational model to best serve its main objective: the eradication of female genital mutilation in Egypt. The Task Force takes into consideration that legislation alone is insufficient without changing people’s attitudes towards women. It also realises that the implementation of a purely medical argument alone is not sufficient to change a prevalent social behaviour such as female genital mutilation. The paper describes the development of an approach that aims to change the current attitude of people towards the bodily integrity of their female children. Instead of viewing girls as potential moral danger, the comprehensive approach advocates a new perspective of them as humans with a full right to enjoy bodily integrity and to be free from pain and humiliation.