Colloquium 2019
20.05.2019 – THIRD G3 INTERNATIONAL EXPERT MEETING ON FGM/C
MANAGEMENT AND PREVENTION OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION/CUTTING: SHARING DATA AND EXPERIENCES, IMPROVING COLLABORATION
May 20-21, 2019 Brussels, Belgium
Institute for the Equality of Women and Men
Brussels
1, rue Ernest Blérot, B-1070 Bruxelles
Below, the PROGRAMME:
09:00-09:25 Keynote lecture 1 | Supporting the health sector to improve FGM prevention and care: WHO’s approach
Christina Pallitto, WHO Geneva
09:25-11:50 Session 1: Social determinants
Moderators | Dina Bader, Fatou Kébé
Objectives: Understand that the practice of FGM/C is embedded in the cultural and social network of a society. / Use the social experience of women to offer better interventions for FGM/C care. / Identify the turning points in women’s life for abandoning the practice.
09:25-09:50 Invited speaker 1
Trends and shifts in the practice of FGMC: facilitators/barriers to abandonment in Kenya
Samuel Thuo Kimani, Kenya
09:50-10:05 Evidence that Female Genital Cutting is a Social Coordination Norm: Predictions and Empirical Results
Katherine Wander and Bettina Shell-Duncan, USA
10:05-10:20 The social consequences of FGM/C on psycho-social well-being: a qualitative data synthesis
Sarah O’Neill, Belgium
10:20-10:35 Female genital cutting in a transnational setting: perceptions and practices among Somali and Sudanese migrants in Norway
Ragnhild Elise B. Johansen, Norway
10:35-10:50 Tracing Change in Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C): Shifting Norms and Practices among Communities in Narok and Kisii Counties
Dennis Matanda, Kenya
10:50-11:05 Coffee break
11:05-11:20 Identifying turning points in the process of changing attitudes towards the practice of Female Genital Mutilation among migrant women in Belgium
Afi Agboli, Togo, Belgium
11:20-11:35 The continuing and emerging determinants for the prevalence of female genital mutilation in Kajiado County, Kenya
Everlyne Komba, Kenya
11:35-11:50 Opinion Leaders and Social Network Mapping Among obstetricians to influence opinions on FGM abandonment and social norm change
Wisal Ahmed, Sudan
11:50-13:00 Session 2: How receiving countries tackle the issues related to prevention and protection in migrants from practicing communities
Moderators | Fabienne Richard, Birgitta Essen
Objectives: Understand that there are unaccountable variations in policies in different countries, ranging from mandatory registration to centering on decreased stigma.
11:50-12:15 Invited speaker 2
The need for epistemological humility
Prevention and care of FGC among migrants in Sweden
Anna Wahlberg, Sweden
12:15-12:30 FGC-related Health Burden and Experiences of Trust and Disrespect among Somali women in the US
Nicole Warren, USA
12:30-12:45 Meaning Well While Doing Harm: Societal measures to check for FGM in Sweden
Sara Johnsdotter, Sweden
12:45-13:00 The effects and experience of the FGM Mandatory Reporting Duty and the Risk Indication System in the UK
Amy Abdelshahid, UK
13:00-14:00 Lunch break
13:00-14:00 Poster session 1
Following of session 2
14:00-14:15 Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting as the basis for an asylum claim in the US: An Analysis of recent cases
Ranit Mishori and Deborah Ottenheimer, USA
14:15-14:30 “Women Lie”: A hostile environment for FGM in an Immigration Context
Charlotte Proudman, UK
14:30-14:45 Factfulness: the stress-reducing habit of only carrying opinions for which you have strong supporting facts
Luce Mosselmans, Sweden
14:45-15:40 Session 3: Care and prevention
Moderators | Jacinta Muteshi, Elise Dubuc
Objectives: Improve knowledge regarding the clinical presentations of FGM/C in the children and adolescent population / Providing appropriate information to professionals and pupils in schools and youth movements
14:45-15:10 Invited speaker 3
A UK perspective on child and adolescent care and prevention
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) surveillance in children and young people (<16 years) in the United Kingdom (UK) and Republic of Ireland (ROI).
Deborah Hodes, UK
15:10-15:25 Evidence to prevent female genital mutilation in High Income Countries: a systematic review and content analysis
Angela Dawson, Australia
15:25-15:40 What do we need to know about Health Care Provider Knowledge Attitudes and Practices toward Caring for Women and Girls Affected by Female Genital Mutilation/ Cutting?
Marea Christina, USA
15:40- 15:55 Tea & Coffee Break
Presentation linked to the subjects of the workshops:
15:55-16:10 Atlas for children with FGM/C
Noémie Guedj and Jasmine Abdulcadir, Switzerland
16:10-16:25 L’accès aux soins et services en matière de MGF/Excision dans les pays d’accueil : perspective des femmes concernées au Québec [Access to care and specialized FGM/C services in host countries: affected women perspectives in Quebec]
Fatoumata Baldé, Canada
16:25-16:40 Piloting female genital mutilation surveillance in Sudan: achievements and lessons
Wisal Ahmed, Sudan
16:40-16:55 Prevalence of female genital mutilation/cutting in various datasets in Finland
Reija Klemetti, Finland
The participants who wish to will then break up into three groups for participation in small workshops
17:00-18:30 Workshop 1: Atlas of FGM/C in children
Jasmine Abdulcadir, Elise Dubuc, and Deborah Hodes
Objectives: At present there are iconography and learning tools/videos available on FGMC in adults. Learning tools for children’s care are lacking. Within the G3 collaboration, a project for developing an atlas or learning tool on FGMC in children has started. This workshop aims at improving collaboration and participation for realizing such tool.
17:00-18:30 Workshop 2: Decreasing stigma
Sophie Alexander, Sarah O’Neill, and Angela Dawson
Objectives: Words and attitudes are important: calling FGMC barbaric or even including it with other forms of VAWG might be counterproductive. What is the best way to balance the three aims of “no complacency, no blame, no shame”?
17:00-18:30 Workshop 3: FGM Prevalence studies direct observation versus self-reporting / direct and indirect in source and migration countries
Jacinta Muteshi, Jurgita Pečiūrienė, and Birgitta Essén
Objectives: Published data indicate that in source and in receiving countries both women and clinicians may incorrectly report women’s circumcision status. Further, self-reporting or reporting on daughter status may present certain constraints. This methodological problem impacts on accurate measurement of decline of the practice. What is the best way to measure? What are the ethics and feasibility of direct observation measures? What can we do for population level estimates? What about type IV?
19:00-20:30 Networking Cocktail hosted by the End FGM European Network
Park Inn Radisson Hotel – Place Marcel Broodthaers 3, Bruxelles
08:00-08:30 Registration & Coffee
08:30-09:00 Keynote lecture 2: Position statements, EIGE, END FGM network
08:30-08:45 Estimating the Number of Girls at Risk of Female Genital Mutilation in the EU: a focus on Belgium.
Jurgita Pečiūrienė, EIGE
08:45-09:00 Research priorities around FGM in Europe – results of a survey among experts, Chiara Cosentino, End FGM European Network
09:00-13:05 Session 4: Clinical demands and outcomes in adult women with FGMC: obstetrical, gynaecological, urologic, psychiatric, sexual and more in source and receiving countries
Moderators | Jasmine Abdulcadir, Mamadou Balde
Objectives: Present results in different contexts, report on motivation, for surgery, improve knowledge regarding the local regulations about deinfibulation, clitoral reconstruction, reinfibulation
09:00-09:20 Invited speaker 4
Obstetrical outcome among women with FGC
Why do Somali women have an increased risk for perinatal and maternal mortality? Audits studies from high-and low resource settings in Sweden and Somalia
Birgitta Essen, Sweden
09:20-09:40 Invited speaker 5
Clitoral reconstruction in Burkina Faso
La formation des médecins à la technique chirurgicale de re-exposition du clitoris après MGF: expérience du Burkina Faso [Doctors training to the surgical technics of re-exposure of the clitoris after FGM: experience of Burkina Faso].
Charlemagne Ouedraogo, Burkina Faso
09:40-09:55 “I have changed my mind, I don’t want the operation anymore”: therapeutic pathways of women who request reconstructive surgeries after FGM/C in Belgium.
Sarah O’Neill, Belgium
09:55-10:10 Measurement of the Sexual Health and Wellbeing of Women who have Undergone Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: A Scoping Review
Tammary Esho, Kenya
10:10-10:25 Présentation de 5 outils pédagogiques facilement accessibles et compréhensibles, développés à CeMAViE, dans le cadre de la prise en charge sexologique des femmes ayant subi les MGF.[Presentation of 5 educational tools developped at CeMAViE for the sexological management of women living with FGM]
Cendrine Vanderhoeven, Belgium
10:25-10:40 A Meta-Analysis of the Sexual Effects of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Using the Female Sexual Function Index
Gretchen Heinrichs, USA
10:40-10:55 Female Genital Cutting and the Lived Experiences of Somali-Canadian Women
Danielle Jacobson, Canada
10:55-11:10 Coffee break
Following session 4
11:10-11:25 Demographics of Philadelphian Women with FGM/C and Health Care Usage
Jasjit Beausang, USA
11:25-11:55 The Maternity experiences and needs of women with female genital mutilation in Australia
Turkmani Sabera, Australia
11:55-12:05 Stakeholders roles and views of care of women with FGM experiencing the postpartum period.
Seymour Rebecca, UK
12:05-12:20 A systematic review and meta-analysis of the reproductive health consequences of female genital mutilation: a comparison between countries in a global context.
Fatoumata Sylla, France
12:20-12:35 Assessing the Nigerian Health System’s Response to Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C)
Otibho Obianwu, Nigeria
12:35-12:50 Sexual scripts and perceptions of healthcare needs related to FGM/C among Sudanese and Somali in Norway
Ziyada Mai Mahgoub, Norway
12:50-13:05 Perspectives of Quebec-based Health Care Professionals in regards with FGM/C: Highlights and Gaps
Bilkis Vissandjée and Elise Dubuc, Canada
13:05-14:00 Lunch break
13:05-14:00 Poster session 2
14:00-16:00 Session 5: Including conceptual and ethical controversies around FGM, Alternative forms/ FGMC type 4/ Medicalisation
Moderators | Samuel Kimani, Sophie Alexander
Objectives: Serve as a platform for colleagues wishing to present conceptual theoretical issues such as: is FGM a feminist issue or not, is FGMC to be included in the violence topic, male circumcision, intersex and more?
14:00-14:20 Invited speaker 6
Genital Autonomy
Why a U.S. law banning ‘FGM’ was ruled unconstitutional–and what can be done to protect children going forward
Brian Earp, USA
14:20-14:40 Invited speaker 7
Type 4 in Senegal
Regard croisé sur l’enlèvement des « sothieuntes » : perceptions des professionnels de la santé, des femmes victimes, des hommes et des pratiqueuses (coupeuses)
Fatou Kebe, Sénégal
14:40-14:55 Normative vision of the women’s external genitalia is an obstacle for prevention
Elise Dubuc, Canada
14:55-15:10 Responses to the constitutional arguments about the need to protect and promote FGM as a community’s right to cultural expression for consenting adults: the Kenyan example
Joachim Osur, Kenya
15:10-15:25 A situational Analysis of Female Genital Mutilation in Sri Lanka
Angela Dawson, Australia
15:25-15:40 Tea & Coffee break
Following session 5
15:40-15:55 La non-pratique des mutilations génitales féminines à Conakry: Études de cas sur les expériences et perspectives de familles dans le contexte de forte prévalence de la Guinée [The non-practice of FGM in Conakry: Case studies on the profiles & experiences of families in the context of high prevalence of Guinea]
Marie-Hélène Doucet, Canada
15:55-16:10 Factors that influence the decision-making processes of healthcare providers in performing FGM on girls and women (medicalization of FGM)
Mamadou Baldé, Guinea Conakry
16:10-16:25 Does medicalization counteract the abandonment of FGC? The association between medicalization and prevalence trends of FGC in Egypt.
Nina Van Eekert, Belgium
The participants who wish to will then break up into two groups for participation in small workshops
16:30-18:00 Workshop 4: Synergies between the NGO and Academic sectors
Stéphanie Florquin, Fabienne Richard and Everlyne Komba
Objectives: GAMS is the main NGO in Belgium working with prevention of FGM, support and care of affected women since 1996. In addition to – and feeding off – its first-line activities and training of professionals, GAMS Be also conducts quantitative and qualitative research on FGM including prevalence studies and (action-) research on the health needs and attitudes of affected communities.
In this workshop we will discuss synergies between the NGO sector and the Academic sector regarding research and policy on FGM, with a focus on issues such as: NGO-Researcher collaborations to reinforce knowledge about affected communities’ needs; Reinforcing access of professionals to research data to improve services and policy on FGM (example of the Community of Practice on FGM); Opportunities and difficulties of research conducted by NGOs; How researchers and NGOs can co-develop better evaluation frameworks for community interventions.
16:30-18:00 Workshop 5: Alternative Rites
Omar Abdulcadir, Samuel Thuo Kimani, and Brian Earp
Objectives: One of the possible routes in cultural groups which are strongly attached to the tradition of cutting is to establish a “replacement ritual”. Do we have evidence that it works? How far can this go? Does it include “touching” the genitalia? Where religious leaders are favourable to FGMC should they be involved in the process?
Is a “prick” an acceptable alternative, because it is perceived by some as relatively harmless, or could it still be morally wrong as form of disrespect to the child’s bodily integrity even if it is medically less harsh?
16:30-18:00 Workshop 6: Troisième génération dans les pays d’accueil et les pays d’origine [Third generation in source and receiving countries]
Armelle Andro, Marie-Hélène Doucet, and Fatoumata Sylla
Objectives: Que l’abandon des MGF/E soit délibéré ou imposé par la loi, élever des filles non excisées a un impact sur les expériences des mères. Que savons-nous de la future generation? [Whether the eschewing of FGMC was deliberate or legally imposed, for mothers with FGMC, the raising of ‘uncut’ daughters has consequences in terms of women’s mothering experiences. What do we know about the next generation?]
This workshop will be held in French
18:00-18:15 Closing remarks & plans for the future G3 and Belgian organizing committees
Day 3 22 May 2019 Satellite meetings
Satellite 1: UNIL ULB workshop
Topic: Rethinking Female Genital Operations: new perspectives on the zero tolerance debate
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a generic term that refers to a set of practices aimed at changing the appearance of female genitalia to meet social norms linked to sexuality, gender and aesthetics. According to international guidelines all forms of FGM are condemned – whether it is invasive (e.g. infibulation) or symbolic (e.g. pricking), medicalized or not, performed after consent or without, practiced on a child or an adult woman – the tolerance is « zero ». Yet, zero tolerance only concerns practices associated with African and South Asian countries but does not apply to female genital surgeries, which are increasingly desired and practiced on adult women and teenage girls under age. Given this double standard, several questions arise from the point of view of both critical reflection and public action: how can you ask migrant communities not to adopt pricking (symbolic form) as an alternative to more invasive forms of FGM, when European clinics offer nymphoplasty (i.e. complete or partial excision of labia minora) for aesthetic reasons? How can you put forward the argument regarding the respect for the physical integrity of children, when « cosmetic surgeries » are practiced on European minors? Based on a collaboration between UNIL and ULB, the aim of the symposium is to initiate interdisciplinary conversations about these controversies by bringing together health professionals, researchers and practitioners working on this subject in different North-South contexts.
The workshop will be held in English
09.00-09:30 Welcome with coffee
09:30-10:00 Introduction
Cynthia Kraus (UNIL)
Asuncion Fresnoza-Flot (ULB-LAMC)
10:00-11:00 Invited speakers
10:00-10:15 Janice Boddy, social anthropologist, University of Toronto
10:15-10:30 Brian Earp, philosopher, Yale University
10:30-10:45 Omar Abdulcadir, gynaecologist/obstetrician, University of Florence
10:45-11:00 Stephanie Florquin, network co-ordinator, GAMS Belgium
11:00-13:00 Open debate
13:00-14:00 Lunch & networking
Organizing Committee:
Dina Bader | UNIL; Cynthia Kraus | UNIL; Sarah O’Neill | ULB; Sophie Alexander | ULB
Satellite 2: CARE AND SHARE annual meeting
Share and care is an existing group of CLINICIANS who work in units who care for women with a FGM/C. They offer clitoral reconstruction in a holistic context. They share their experience annually. The previous meeting was in Paris.
The workshop will be held in French (with live translating into English)
09.30-10:00 Welcome with coffee
10:00-10:15 Introduction
Martin Caillet and Ghada Hatem
10:15-11:00 Child examination: how to examine a child in optimal conditions (attitudes, language, …)
Céline Deguette, forensic doctor (Paris): Experience in consultation with children followed by an open discussion
11:00-11.45 Reconstructive Surgery: material, method, post-operative treatments, interest of the pre-operative multidisciplinary staff.
Charlemagne Ouedraogo, OB/GYN (Burkina Faso): Presentation of his protocol and post-operative care, followed by an open discussion
11:45-12:30 Feedback from the Working Group on the questionnaire Sexo
Arnaud Sevenne, sexologist (Paris): Presentation of the results of the pre-test.
12.30-13.00 Next steps, Care and Share Network future events
13:00-14:00 Lunch & networking
14h30-15h30 Visit of « 320, rue Haute » our « Women’s House » for those who wish.
Care and Share Organizing Committee:
Martin Caillet | CeMAViE, ULB ; Ghada Hatem | Maison des Femmes, Paris ;
Fabienne Richard | CeMAViE, ESP ULB, GAMS Belgique
Poster Session 20 May and 21 May 2019
13:05-14:00
Anti-violence women shelters and public health system in Italy: reality and possibilities to fight FGM and offer protection and prevention to women and girls.
Valanetina Pescetti, Italy
Attitudes of health care providers regarding FGM and its medicalization in Guinea
Mamadou Baldé, Guinea Conakry
Development and validation knowledge, attitudes, and confidence (KAC) scale for health care providers caring for women and girls affected by FGM/C US context
Christina Marea, USA
Effect of an FGC educational intervention on provider competencies
Nicole Warren, USA
Female Genital Mutilation and Women’s Healthcare Experiences with the General Practitioner in the Netherlands: a Qualitative Study
Emily Allwood, Netherlands
FGM/C in Austria – Regulations, Politics, and Interventions
Jirovsky Elena, Austria
Lessons learned during 7 years of sensibilization campaigns in rural communities in Kankan, Guinea
Kaba Bintou Mady, Guinea Conakry
Mapping the Research Priorities for FGM/C in the US.
Mishori Ranit, USA
Mesure de la satisfaction et du bien-être des professionnel.le.s en charge d’un parcours de soins destiné aux femmes victimes de mutilations génitales féminines et de violences sexuelles en situation de précarité.
Maëlle Prioux, France
Opportunities for multi-sector Approach in a Devolved Governance Context: Eradication of Harmful Traditional Practices in Kenya
Everlyne Komba, Kenya
Prise en charge multidisciplinaire de patientes ayant subi des mutilations sexuelles féminines en service de maladies infectieuses : un exemple de parcours en santé sexuelle
Laura Bouetard, France
Complications des MGF en milieu rural malien
Moustapha Touré, Mali
Socio-economic impact for the health system of female genital mutilation in Burkina Faso
Joel Zina Mbiton, Burkina Faso
Victimization, Genital Mutilation, and Health among Somali Refugee Women in the U.S.A
Kate Fox, USA
Towards more collaborative approaches to Female Genital Mutilation safeguarding in the UK: Accommodating the perspectives of Somali families
Karlsen Shaffron, UK
G3 fixed Organizing Committee:
- Jasmine Abdulcadir | University of Geneva;
- Sophie Alexander | Université Libre de Bruxelles;
- Elise Dubuc | University of Montreal;
- Dina Bader | University of Lausanne.
Belgium G3 Organizing Committee:
- Nicolas Belkacemi | Institut pour l’Egalité entre les Femme et les Hommes (IEFH);
- Martin Caillet | CeMAViE, ULB;
- Els Leye | International Centre for Reproductive Health (ICRH) UGent;
- Sarah O’Neill | ULB-ESP ; ULB-LAMC
- Fabienne Richard | ULB-ESP, CEMAViE and GAMS-Belgique;
- Nina van Eekert | Centre of Population, Family & Health (UAntwerpen) | International Centre for Reproductive Health (UGhent).
- An Vercoutere | Erasme, ULB.
The meeting will be held in English & French (with live translation).
