ASMAA FATHÎ

Cairo- Female genital mutilation (FGM) is practiced in many countries, including Egypt, despite the bans. FGM, a procedure performed on a woman or girl to alter or injure her genitalia for non-medical reasons, can cause life-lasting physical and psychological trauma. In 2012, the UN General Assembly designated February 6th as the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, with the aim to amplify and direct the efforts on the elimination of this practice. Every year on February 6, many actions and events have been held all around the world to eliminate this practice. In Egypt, the Women's Center for Guidance and Legal Awareness held a workshop to raise awareness against FGM.

92% of women have undergone FGM

Asmaa Ramzi, a member of the Women's Center for Guidance and Legal Awareness, told us that they, as women lawyers, held a workshop to raise awareness against FGM. The center has provided psychological support to the victims of FGM. Emphasizing that FGM is a crime in Egypt, Asmaa Ramzi said that according to the amendment of article 242 of the Penal Code, individuals committing this crime will be punished with a period of imprisonment of between five and seven years. “92% Egyptian women have undergone FGM. 72% of female genital mutilation wasn’t performed by doctors,” she added.

Soher Ebu Shelawa, one of the lawyers of the center, told us that they held a workshop to solve the female genital mutilation problem, which is common in Egypt. Heba Adel, a member of the Egyptian Female Lawyers Association, said that they have carried out many activities, including drafting a document containing legal changes on female genital mutilation. “We will carry out awareness-raising activities to stop this practice in Egypt. One of these activities is the interactive theatre.”

Campaign from Tadwein

Tadwein Center for Social Gender Studies has launched a hashtag campaign “StopFGM” as part of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation. The center also released a statement and calls on the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population to follow and punish those who committed this crime.