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July
2010 -
Call for Papers: Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C)
within the EU
The Department of Geography,
Environment and Disaster Management and Department of
Psychology, Coventry University, 10th November
2010.
Within the past two decades
most countries within the EU have passed legislation
prohibiting the practice of FGM/C, and some have even gone
further by making it illegal to take a child out of the
country for the purpose of carrying out FGM/C. Nevertheless,
the practice of FGM/C continues. Research conducted in
African countries where the practice of FGM is most
prevalent suggests that strongly held beliefs are
responsible for perpetuating the practice. However, how
relevant are these belief and social meanings associated
with FGM/C in the ‘homeland’ to African communities in the
EU? Furthermore, how do governments and policy makers within
the EU effectively address the issue without further
marginalising immigrant communities?
This one day conference will
explore the cultural and social dynamics associated with FGM/C
within the EU and discuss possible solutions to a complex
and controversial issue. Papers are invited to address one
of the following themes:
*
The recent announcements by the American and Australian
medical associations of providing clitoral nicking?
*
Exploring the cultural and social dynamics of FGM/C
*
Gendered power relations associated with FGM/C, particularly
between young and older women
*
Decision making processes relating to FGM/C
*
Men’s involvement in stopping FGM/C
*
The success and failures of the health and human rights
discourse in tackling FGM
Abstracts should be no
longer than 300 words and should be submitted via email or
hard copy no later than 27th August 2010.
Successful applicants will be notified by 20th
September 2010.
Please
send hard copy to: Dr David Beecham, Coventry University,
Priory Street, Coventry CV1 5FB or alternatively Email:
d.beecham@coventry.ac.uk.
May
2010 - FGM NCG reaction to American Academy of Pediatrics'
policy statement
Reference:
Pediatrics
The FGM National Clinic Group
has grave concerns regarding the AAP Bioethics Committee
Statement on FGM). Whilst this document sensitively explains
the procedures and consequences of FGM, it contains the
suggestion that federal law allows paediatricians to perform
a “ritual nick” to avoid more extensive FGM in at risk
families. This action is being taken at a time when many
third world countries are outlawing this practice.
The FGM National Clinic Group
opposes FGM in all its guises. FGM is a violent and barbaric
procedure leading to significant short and long term health
consequences and death in millions of women. Medical
practitioners who are complicit in such “ritual nicks”
condone and legitimise Female Genital Mutilation. Any
genital incision on a child is an assault and the only
object of any civilised society is the complete eradication
of this practice.
March
2010 - FCO launches FGM awareness campaign
The Foreign and
Commonwealth Office (FCO) has launched an online resource to
give guidance when incurring situations surrounding FGM. In
addition, a poster and leaflet campaign has been conceived
that provides key details as well as challenges existing
myths about the practice.
The documents
can be downloaded here:
FCO Leaflet and
FCO Poster.
The FCO is the
government body responsible for promoting British interests
overseas and supporting their citizens and businesses
worldwide. More information about their work can be found
here:
Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
December
2009 - Three organisations launch joint initiative
Three
independent charitable organisations - City Parochial
Foundation, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and Rosa (the UK fund
for women and girls) have collaborated to establish a new
UK-wide £1 million special initiative to fund
community-based preventive work to safeguard children from
the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
Click here to read
the entire press release on the Esmée
Fairbairn website.
September
2009 - Second conference date confirmed
After the success of the last conference, entitled 'Female
Genital Mutilation in a Globalized Age' in 2008, the group
has decided to host a second event which will be of interest
to health professionals, psychologists, sociologists,
educationalists and others interested in FGM. The conference
is to be held in London on Wednesday 20 January 2010. For
further details please contact
Susan Smith.
March 2009 -
Educational DVD in the works
The FGM
National Clinical Group is developing an educational DVD for
health professionals that explains the procedure for
undertaking a reversal operation. This will be launched at the second
forthcoming conference in London.
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