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Learn moreInternational Day against Female Genital Mutilation
International Day against Female Genital Mutilation
Hamburg, 06.02.2018
On February 6, the International Day against Female Genital Mutilation draws attention to the human rights violations against girls and women. This cruel mutilation practice primarily affects Muslim women in African countries, who suffer lifelong health and psychological consequences as a result of this millennia-old custom.
We at TARGET e. V. rely on the power of religion and the close partnership with Islam to put an end to this crime. Our approach: religion strikes at the heart, and that is where change must happen. If female genital mutilation (FGM) is stopped in the countries of origin, this will also protect girls from refugee and migrant families in Europe.
TARGET's awareness campaign "The Golden Book" is aimed at supporting imams who join TARGET's strategy and proclaim the message that FGM is a punishable crime when preaching to the people. In the West African country of Guinea-Bissau, our imam teams are travelling to the most remote places in the country to convince other clerics as well as teachers, health officials, women's organizations and the population. More and more imams are joining the campaign and strengthening each other in regional meetings, which also serve to provide further training. Imam Djaló from Buba: "I used to think that the circumcision of girls was a religious duty, but now I am convinced that we must take a stand against it."
The basis of our campaigns is the Azhar fatwa, which we obtained at the International Scholars' Conference in the renowned Al Azhar in Cairo in 2006. The core sentence of the fatwa: Female genital mutilation is a punishable crime that violates the highest values of Islam and must be stopped by all means. The conference was summarized in the sumptuously designed Golden Book and over 100,000 copies were produced. In several African countries, TARGET's regional Imam teams have already distributed them free of charge as a basis for sermons. Further religious legal opinions by senior Islamic clerics complement the work, which has been translated into many languages.
The biggest problem for the population is a lack of knowledge about FGM and the taboo remains high. Persuading the high clerics of Islam to rethink this means a great chance of protection and an intact life for girls threatened by female genital mutilation worldwide. TARGET's strategy of entering into a respectful dialog with Muslim dignitaries is perceived by the population as culturally appropriate and positive. This shows that TARGET's approach is effective and is achieving success in the fight against FGM.
Support our work and secure our projects in the long term. A millennia-old custom can only be achieved with painstaking, intensive commitment, but it also requires patience. Become a sponsorr and help protect the girls and women of Africa from this cruel tradition now.