Our approach

TARGET has been working in Guinea-Bissau for more than ten years with two teams, each consisting of two imams, an assistant and a driver. In order to convince people who lack knowledge, we have to adapt to their pace. Under various challenging conditions, our imams therefore raise awareness of the topic through dialogue, the Golden Book and the brochures developed from it, as well as an educational film. They have been able to achieve a great deal in the campaigns to date, breaking down fronts, changing opinions, averting the threat to girls and thus protecting them from mutilation, and all thanks to the power of religion. That is their greatest motivation. They are proud that there are TARGET billboards at the airport and at the most important traffic points, showing the cover picture of our educational brochure (Annual Letter 2017).

The regular meetings with open-minded imams are also a source of strength. The continuous exchange strengthens cohesion. They courageously go to places known to be resistant without prior notice so as not to be turned away, as cultural hospitality obliges a village chief to receive them as guests and at least ask about their request. We visited a number of villages and mosques in the regions of Bafatá, Gabún and Bissau. In this first village contact, the imams always make it clear that they are coming to talk about FGM. The village chief then has to decide whether or not to allow our team to meet the population for this topic.

In most cases, the teams can then convene meetings with his help, ideally three: the first with the leaders and family heads, the second with the youth and the third with the women of the village. Often, however, the village leaders do not allow the team to meet the women separately. In this case, there is a joint event. Our team stays in one place for two days, talks to the village groups, distributes brochures and shows our awareness-raising film in the evening after dark. A makeshift screen on the mango tree, a small generator and a projector make it possible. In case of rejection, we repeatedly try to convince the village chiefs to allow at least a small sensitization on the consequences of female genital mutilation, which is often successful. Persistence pays off.

Excerpts from the media campaign

We are now actively campaigning for an end to female genital mutilation with a media campaign. As part of our educational work, we have succeeded in introducing a weekly Stop FGM program on the most listened to national radio station. With the help of the radio, it is possible to reach many people in Guinea-Bissau.

An excerpt from our media campaign from Guinea-Bissau: Health Minister Dionísio Cumbas on Female Genital Mutilation

Another excerpt: Activist Fatumata Djau Baldé on Female Genital Mutilation over Guinea-Bissau

More excerpts from the media campaign can be found on our Youtube channel.

About the country of Guinea-Bissau

The small country in West Africa, where we have been campaigning for an end to genital mutilation since 2012, is just over 36,000 km in size and has a population of just under 1.9 million in 2017, according to the UN. Almost one in two girls and one in two women between the ages of 15 and 49 have had their genitals mutilated, which is known here as "fanadu". At 80%, the percentage is highest in the eastern regions of the country (MICS 2014). Guinea-Bissau is one of the poorest countries in the world. There is no health, social or economic infrastructure. Many villages, especially in the regions affected by female genital mutilation (FGM), are difficult to access. People live from the yields of their fields and from fishing.

They have little access to information and education; according to UNICEF, only one in two people in Guinea-Bissau can read and write; at best, the villages have an elementary school. Without roads, many villages in the interior are isolated; 60 km quickly becomes a journey of several hours. Boulders, quicksand, mud or huge potholes have to be crossed through swamps and often by dugout canoe to reach the numerous small islands. In the rainy season, many villages are inaccessible. There are only guesthouses or small hotels for overnight stays in the three larger inland towns. This makes our trips to visit the villages a logistical challenge. The teams need a high level of stress tolerance in terms of food and accommodation, often having to make do with rice and mosquito nets in small huts or under a mango tree.

While TARGET's work is largely unaffected by the difficulties of this politically unstable country, we face a completely different headwind in the villages. The resistance that our teams encounter when addressing the taboo of mutilation is a major challenge. They can address people's fears and doubts through dialog, but open dislike and verbal aggression are much more difficult. Sometimes the imams are insulted and humiliated or the teams are even met with physical aggression. Headwinds wear on the nerves and cause concern for life and limb, but also make the imams more courageous, convinced and self-confident. We are always amazed and full of admiration at the motivation with which they carry the message against mutilation to even the most remote villages.