The Drum Beat 844: FGM through the Lens of Child Rights Communication

• 1."People Will Talk about Her If She Is Not Circumcised": Exploring the Patterning, Drivers and Gender Norms around Female Genital Mutilation in Ethiopia's Somali Region
  by Elizabeth Presler-Marshall, Nicola Jones, Kefyalew Endale, et al. 
• Drawing on mixed-methods research undertaken by the Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence research programme, this article explores the patterning, drivers, and decision-making around FGM in Ethiopia's Somali region. Here, FGM is tied to multiple and intersecting norms - only one of which is marriageability. Thus, the researchers recommend: beginning with interventions designed for girls and women and focused on gender norms; engaging boys and men; conducting advocacy and outreach; and investing in context-tailored and evidence-informed programmatic responses. [Feb 2024] 
   
• 2.An Insider-Outsider Approach to Understanding the Prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation in Pusiga in the Upper East Region of Ghana
  by Benedict Ekow Ocran and Godwin Agot Atiigah 
• This study engages intimately with the worldview of communities practicing female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in Pusiga (FGM prevalence 27.8%) in the Upper East Region of Ghana, while drawing out implications for designing health promotion interventions in this context. The researchers recommend a systematic approach to health promotion that addresses the deep socio-cultural, economic, and religious underpinnings of FGM/C in Pusiga. This approach centres on the integration of chastity, sexual pleasure, sexual delay, and role modelling into sex education programmes in the municipality. [Nov 2022] 
   
• 3.Rethinking End FGM/C Work: A Guide to Designing Effective Social-Norms-Change Programmes to End FGM/C
  From Plan International, this document offers guidelines on how to implement a social norms approach to end FGM/C. It provides guidance on how to design culturally sensitive, community-based programmes to shift social norms around FGM in ways that address a community's needs and priorities and are accepted and supported by key actors who influence and support the practice. [Jan 2022] 
   
• 4.Changing Harmful Sociocultural Norms that Promote Gender-Based Violence: Peer Education Guide for Male Champions
  This guide is designed to be used by male peer educators to promote change in harmful socio-cultural norms and practices that promote gender-based violence at the community level. It addresses physical, sexual, psychological, and economic abuse, as well as issues such as child marriage and FGM. The guide was developed by the Teenage Education and Empowerment Network in Nigeria with support from ActionAid Nigeria as part of the Strengthening Indigenous Communities to Promote Girls' Rights project. [2022] 
   
• See also:
  FGM and Social Norms: A Guide to Designing Culturally Sensitive Community Programmes
   

• 5.An Ecological and Culturally Grounded Approach to Promote Adolescent Girls' Rights and Development: A Case Study from Senegal
  by Judi Ann Aubel and Chisina Kapungu 
• To create an enabling environment that is supportive of change for Senegalese girls, the Grandmother Project - Change through Culture developed an intervention called Girls' Holistic Development (GHD). It challenges community actors to revitalise core aspects of their cultural values and to identity and incorporate new norms and attitudes in favour of GHD. The intervention has been found to have contributed: to changing community norms and practices regarding FGM, girls' education, child marriage, and teen pregnancy; to modifying gender-biased attitudes negatively affecting girls; to creating local alliances of girls, mothers, and grandmothers; and to empowering grandmother leaders, thereby promoting GHD. [2024] 
   
• 6.Power to You(th)
  Power to You(th) is a 5-year international programme that addresses key issues affecting adolescent girls and young women, such as FGM/C, child marriage, sexual and gender-based violence, and unintended pregnancies. With a focus on the participation of young people, the programme seeks to bring about change by enlarging the space where the voices of young people are heard. Activities include capacity strengthening of young people and civil society organisations (CSOs), the creation of platforms and tools for young people to have their voices heard, and research and monitoring to assess change and hold stakeholders accountable for addressing the needs of young people. 
   
• 7.MEA Policy Advocacy Strategy on Engaging Men to End FGM
  MenEngage Africa (MEA), a network of CSOs and activists, works to contribute to the elimination of all forms of discrimination, violence, and harmful practices against all women and girls, including FGM. Published by MEA in partnership with Sonke Gender Justice, this strategy document sets out the motivation, imperatives, and entry points for engaging in national, regional, and international advocacy initiatives and articulates the necessary actions and available opportunities at these levels for effecting change. [Dec 2021] 
   
• See also:
  Act With Her (AWH)
   

• As a continuation of a virtual event held in October in Spanish, on December 4 2024, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), The CI, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CI LA), and UNINORTE held a virtual event to foster dialogue among the global community on the unique perspectives of communication and social change emerging from the LAC region. One focus was connecting the social and behaviour change (SBC) debate to the opportunities of the 35th anniversary of the Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC). If you were unable to participate, you can still benefit from the presentations, exchanges/comments, and resources shared! Click here to access a CI summary of the dialogue that provides you with access to the recording and links to all other materials.
   

• 8.What Interventions Are Effective to Prevent or Respond to Female Genital Mutilation? A Review of Existing Evidence from 2008-2020
  by Dennis Juma Matanda, Nina Van Eekert, Melanie Croce-Galis, Jill Gay, Maria Johanna Middelburg, and Karen Hardee 
• The study drew on a rapid evidence assessment of literature on FGM interventions published between 2008 and 2020. Of the 115 studies that met inclusion criteria, 106 were of high and moderate quality and were included in the final analysis. Health education, community dialogues with parents and religious leaders, the use of media and social marketing efforts, and formal education for women and girls are examples of interventions that have a strong enough body of evidence to justify wider implementation as part of comprehensive efforts to eliminate FGM. [May 2023] 
   
• 9.Lessons Learnt in Scaling up Evidence-based Comprehensive Health Sector Responses Addressing Female Genital Mutilation in Highly Prevalent Settings
  by Wisal Ahmed, Eyob Gebretsadik, Dina Gbenou, et al. 
• This paper describes a multi-country participatory approach that the World Health Organization (WHO) initiated in 2018 to facilitate the uptake and scale up of comprehensive health sector programmes in countries with high FGM prevalence. The paper describes the scale-up approach used, its key achievements, its strengths and weaknesses, and areas to be strengthened in future scale-up efforts. [Jun 2023] 
   
• 10.Assessing Social Norms, Health Behavior, and Change Using Visually Informed Participatory Research Tools: Social Network Mapping and 2x2 Tables
  by Kathryn Snyder, J. Rachael HaileSelasse, Girija Kaimal, and Suruchi Sood 
• This paper explores two visual tools - social network mapping (SNM) and 2x2 tables - used for participatory data collection in interventions that seek to shift social norms to facilitate change for women's health. It shares two examples of how these two visual tools were used as part of social norms interventions to impact SBC around FGM and menstrual hygiene management. [Jun 2023] 
   

• 11.FGM/C Advocacy Toolkit
  The African Women's Development Network (FEMNET) through the UNFPA Spotlight Initiative implemented an FGM/C project in Kenya, Somalia, Egypt, Niger, and Guinea. The project seeks to engage young girls and women in activism, training, solidarity actions, and online/media campaigns. This practical guide is intended for advocates working to stop the practice of FGM/C and to end patriarchy. [Sep 2022] 
   
• 12.Ethical Considerations in Research on Female Genital Mutilation
  by Christina Pallitto 
• As WHO explains, research on FGM involves inquiry on a highly sensitive, frequently traumatic, and often-taboo practice. When women and girls are asked about their experiences of undergoing FGM, they may be at risk of secondary trauma and fear of disclosure. This WHO guidance document aims to strengthen the ethical conduct of research on FGM. It can inform the practice of researchers involved in research on FGM and guide research ethics committees tasked with reviewing research protocols on any type of study on FGM. [Jan 2022] 
   
• 13.Addressing Harmful Practices Through Social Innovation: A UNFPA Innovation Guide for "You" and Startups
  Published by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) East and Southern Africa Regional Office, this social innovation guide is designed to be used by young people, especially adolescents and girls, to develop their innovative ideas and accelerate collective efforts to end harmful practices, including FGM. Using a human-centred design approach, the guide is intended to be used within broader programmes that invite young people to become active participants in their own development. [Jan 2024] 
   
• 14.Person-Centred Communication for Female Genital Mutilation Prevention: A Facilitator's Guide for Training Health-Care Providers
  by Karin Stein 
• Healthcare providers (HCPs) play an important role in improving the health and well-being of girls and women living with FGM and in shaping the attitudes of their patients about FGM. Offered by WHO, these guidance materials - including a facilitator's manual, training slides, a motivational video for training, and a promotional video - are meant to build HCPs' person-centred communication skills for FGM prevention. [Feb 2022] 
   
• 15.Journalists' Handbook on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM): Guidelines for Gender-sensitive Reporting
  This set of handbooks for media professionals provides guidelines for reporting on FGM in a gender-sensitive, accurate, and constructive manner. Developed by Equality Now, the resource offers background information on FGM and practical and ethical guidelines that journalists can apply in their reportage on the issue. [2022] 
   

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