On February 6th 2014 the UK government launched ‘International Zero Tolerance of FGM’ day. The UK Department for International Development then pledged 36 Million to end FGM (female genital mutilation) and Child-marriage over the next five years making it the largest donor globally. The money has been allocated to support three programmes of work (read below).

The University of Portsmouth via the Development Studies Group (DSG) is holding a 2-day workshop on May 8 – 9 to discuss FGM. Please join us and book your place on Eventbrite .

The workshop aim is to stand back and explore what inroads these 3 programmes and interventions have actually made. Speakers from the legal and third sector in the UK will share their experiences, research and perspectives. We will also hear from academics and activists working as part of the end FGM campaign in Sudan. What are the emerging lessons and what are the remaining gaps in knowledge that must be plugged in order to support effective programming. In short; what works to end FGM?

The 3 programmes:

Firstly, DFID is funding ‘The Girls Generation’ which represents a Social Movement specifically focusing on ending FGM.

Secondly, a consortium led by the Population Council in Nairobi have been commissioned to generate new research to aid our understanding of FGM in terms of its prevalence, why it happens and the most effective approaches to ending it.

Thirdly money has been allocated to support the ‘Free Sudan from FGM/C’ intervention programme.

Sudan has been identified as the model case for intervention and in addition to receiving money through the DFID programme is also the focus of a country based social movement called Saleema funded by the UNJP (which DFID also supports). At the same time efforts in the UK have been stepped up with heightened awareness and a push to see prosecutions. Community activities and programmes designed to support and capacity build key professionals have also been funded.

Tuesday 8 May

14:00 – 14:30 Introduction to the Workshop Topic: Professor Tamsin Bradley, International Development Studies, University of Portsmouth.

14:30 – 15:30 Keynote Talk Professor Nafisa Bedri Professor in Reproductive Health, Manager of the Gender & Reproductive Health & Rights Resource & Advocacy Center (GRACe) Ahfad University for Women Sudan

15:30 – 16:00 Tea/Coffee Break

16:00 – 16:30 The Barriers to Prosecution of FGM in the UK.

Dr Charlotte Proudman, Affiliated Researcher The University of Cambridge, Barrister The Chambers of Antony Metzer QC.

16:30 – 17:30 Violence against Women and Girls Transformation project in Hampshire. Southern Domestic Abuse Service.

Wednesday 9 May

10:00 – 10:15 Introduction by the Chair Emeritus Professor Ruth Pearson School of Politics and International Studies (POLIS) University of Leeds.

Session on FGM in Sudan

Sara Isam and Nuha Tambal Lecturers and PhD candidates from Ahfad University for Women, Sudan will present their research findings. The research has been funded by the UK Department for International Development and forms part of the Free Sudan from FGM/C intervention programme.

10:15 – 10:45 Sara Isam The Impact of Public Health Messages on Attitudes towards FGM in Sudan.

10:45 – 11:15 Tea/Coffee Break

11:15 – 11:45 Nuha Tambal Intergenerational Change and its Impact on Social Norm Change in Relation to FGM in Sudan.

11:45 – 12:15 Patience Manhovo (Mres Graduate UoP) Type IV FGM among the Zimbabwe diaspora in Southampton, UK.

12:15 – 12:45 Ottis Mubaiwa (PhD candidate UoP) Bride-Price and its link to FGM in Zimbabwe and the UK diaspora

12:45 – 13:45 Lunch

13:45 – 14:45 Round Table Discussion