Tradition, chastity and marriageability. These are some of the reasons provided as to why the majority of women and girls in Egypt have undergone a form of female genital mutilation.
But in truth the harmful practice is fueled by gender bias, misogyny and inequality.
Here we meet several people – including grandmothers, fathers, farmers, teachers and shopkeepers – who have recognized it as a form of gender-based violence and decided it must end. Read on to learn how these individuals have become catalysts for change in their communities.
“I learned about the harmful impact of female genital mutilation on women and girls and that it has no religious or medical foundation. We are destroying [girls’] futures… It is not a necessary practice at all.”
“Doctors used to carry female genital mutilation out after hours and in secret. We shouldn’t stay in the dark, we should always strive to change for the better.”
“If you are about to get married, why would you care if this woman has been subjected to female genital mutilation? Isn’t it more important to agree on other things to build a life together?”
Engaging men and boys is essential but of course women and girls remain integral to designing their own futures and those of the next generations.
“Empowering women with skills is essential to giving them control over their own lives”
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