Building bridges between diasporas and their countries of origin to promote the abandonment of female genital mutilation (FGM) is a constant concern for Equilibres & Populations. That is why Equipop has joined forces with the Italian NGO AIDOS and GAMS Belgium to develop the project "Building bridges between Africa and Europe to tackle FGM."This project is funded by the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Program on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting. Equipop will be responsible for developing a web documentary on the FGM abandonment ceremony that will take place on December 3 in the Kayes region of Mali.
[1] Building bridges between Europe and Africa to end MSF
Promote a coordinated phase-out of the use of MSF in Europe and Africa
MSF knows no borders, and action to end these practices is needed in both countries of origin and countries of emigration. In Europe, 180,000[1] girls and women are at risk of undergoing female genital mutilation every year, and 500,000[2] women victims of FGM live on the continent. Interactions between diasporas and their countries of origin will play a key role in perpetuating or abandoning harmful traditional practices. This project will therefore help to forge links and open up dialogue between members of diasporas and their communities living in their countries of origin.
[1] European Parliament, European Parliament resolution of March 24, 2009 on combating female genital mutilation in the EU, Resolution of March 24, 2009, European Parliament, 2009.
[2] Idem.
Spread awareness of the ongoing MSF abandonment process in the Kayes health district
Equilibres & Populations and its Malian partner AMSOPT are organizing a ceremony to abandon female genital mutilation and early marriage as part of the "Protecting the Next Generation" project on December 3. This will be an opportunity for 38 villages to officially abandon these practices.
The support of members of the diaspora is very important during such public events. That is why Equipop will record testimonials from migrants who are in favor of abandoning MSFs to broadcast them during the ceremony. To maximize impact, a team of photographers and videographers will be on site to cover the event. Their fieldwork will result in the creation of a web documentary featuring photos, videos, and testimonials. The web documentary will be a means of widely disseminating, both in Africa and Europe, the momentum behind the move to abandon MSF in the Kayes health district.
The web documentary will be released early next year. We will be sure to keep you informed!
