A three-weeklong workshop training on the prevention of female genital mutilation (FGM) was held in Ermelo, Netherlands on 23 January 2024 by Jamaal Foundation (JEF). During the training it was deeply discussed on three main topics namely; The Consequences of FGM, the Dutch legislation on FGM, and information on aftercare
Migrant communities from Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Iraq, Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, and Syria attended the training in which they exchanged their views over the effects of female circumcision on both the physical and mental health that girls went through during menstruation and delivery of babies.
Istahil Abdullahi, a trainer, who campaigns for the prevention of female circumcision, gave a presentation on FGM background information and shared a heartfelt story about the circumcision she had gone through in her childhood.
She said that 28 countries in the world still perform this old traditional practice of female circumcision. “It is more important to be aware of the risks caused by FGM. We can no longer accept to see our girls to be victims for their lifetime.” Istahil said.
Fatmata Kamara, from Sierra Leone, said it is unfortunate that circumcision which is a total abuse of human rights still exists in some parts of the world, especially in Sera Leone.
Speaking at the closing ceremony Zahra S. Naleie, the project manager of the Federation of Somali Association in the Netherlands (FSAN), said that it is needed more national and international efforts to end the practice of female circumcision.
“In the Netherlands, it is forbidden to perform all sorts of female circumcision, and any parent that tries to take his/her daughter outside the Netherlands for cutting will face 12 years of prison and a fine of thousands of euros,” Zahra said.
She also mentioned FGM is an enormous problem for Somali women as people in the country continue to perform circumcision. Zahra Asked intellectuals and Islamic scholars to warn society against the risk of FGM.
Zahra called on the Somali government to speed up the laws against female circumcision in the Parliament to save more girls.
Bushra, who is from Iraq and was a participant in the training, said the practice of FGM still exists in Northern Iraq. “People who are still performing the circumcision need to have an awareness and be warned against the danger of FGM,” she said, thanking the municipality of Ermelo for sponsoring this training.
Osman Abukar, among the key figures trained for FGM awareness, said that female circumcision has nothing to do with the Islamic religion and is just an old tradition that needs to be ended.
Jamaal Foundation, which was established in 2010, has been active in both Somalia and the Netherlands in promoting community awareness. It is now strongly warning the migrant community members against harmful practices, like female circumcision, forced marriage, and child abandonment.
The attendees asked for more training on social issues and thanked the municipality of Ermelo town for their financial support of this training.
