09 December 2024

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.

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Zanaty El-Sawy returned home one day and told his wife he needed to discuss an important matter with her. Going against the social norm for his area, Zanaty told his wife that he did not want to subject his two daughters to female genital mutilation.
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Zanaty had attended a workshop developed by UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, and CARE in Assiut, Egypt, on female genital mutilation. Becoming a father to two girls had spurred Zanaty to research the issue.
“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.”
- Zanaty.
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The workshops were eye-opening for Hussein Shehata, who regrets subjecting his two eldest daughters to female genital mutilation. “It was tradition. We thought we were protecting the girls’ chastity,” he said.
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Two of Hussein’s daughters play on the steps of their home.
“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.”
- Hussein.
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Sabry Ibrahim, pictured here with his family, also participated in the ‘Engaging Men and Boys’ workshops. “I now talk to everyone who visits my shop about preventing violence against women and girls,” he said.
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Fahd Mohamed also promotes gender equality, believing that sons and daughters should be treated equally. “Female genital mutilation is a family matter, and when it comes to family matters, there is no difference between a man and a woman,” Fahd told UNFPA
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In Minya, Georgi Wahba is well known around his village. People point and wave at him: “That’s Georgi!” they say. “He’s the one who organizes the awareness sessions on female genital mutilation.”
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Georgi was trained to hold intergenerational discussions that help bridge the gap between elders and young people.
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“We bring together entire families, a husband and wife and their daughters, and spend the day with them,” Georgi said. “You should’ve seen this house yesterday, there were over 50 people here.”
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Georgi believes female genital mutilation is deeply rooted in religious misconceptions. He encourages open sharing of thoughts and opinions at his discussions, as understanding is a starting point for offering a different perspective.
“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?”
- Georgi

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.

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Shadia Hassa goes door-to-door in Bani Ebeid, aiming to talk people out of subjecting their girls to female genital mutilation. “Some people listen to me, but others resist,” the grandmother told UNFPA.
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Shadia has noticed a generational change, with new parents more likely to be swayed against the harmful practice. But more resistance from the older generation, especially other grandmothers who play a major role in decision-making on the issue.
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Shadia is determined to convince her own generation that female genital mutilation must end. Shadia draws on religious and legal arguments to make her case; but she also makes the sessions social and full of laughter, so people are drawn to taking part.
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In Sohag, Shaimaa Nabil has created an educational programme called ‘Girls Stories’. Shaimaa hopes the women and girls who attend her group sessions can express themselves freely and ask about anything.
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Shaimaa’s initiative combines lessons on vocational skills with discussions on female genital mutilation and other sexual and reproductive health and rights issues.
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A 16-year-old in Sahimaa’s group asked her for help in protecting her younger sister from undergoing female genital mutilation. Shaimaa was able to speak to the mother and with mutual understanding and discussion, the parents changed their minds.
“Empowering women with skills is essential to giving them control over their own lives”
- Shaimaa.
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UNFPA Egypt supports these initiatives under the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation, with the support of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Cairo, and in partnership with CARE.
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Involving men and boys, taking time for non-judgmental discussions and supporting women and girls to design their own initiatives fosters hope for a future where girls have bodily autonomy and are no longer subjected to this human rights violation.

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