FGC Symposium Program.pdf - Canadian Women's Health Network

Naana Otoo‐Oyorteyis the Executive Director of theFoundation for Women’s HealthResearch and Development(FORWARD). FORWARD is thelead agency in the UK working totackle female genital mutilation(FGM). For the last 25 yearsNaana has worked in the field ofsexual and reproductive healthand rights and women’s issues asan advocate, trainer andconsultant. Naana has a particularinterest in tackling gender baseddiscriminatory practicesincluding FGM, child marriageand sexual violence which impactadversely on sexual andreproductive wellbeing anddignity of African women andgirls. Naana holds an MPhil inDevelopment Studies from theInstitute of Development Studies,Sussex University.BIOS AND ABSTRACTS cont’d.FGM: Community Based Work in the UKThis presentation will share FORWARD’s community developmentapproach to addressing female genital mutilation (FGM) in the UK. Thewomen’s health and leadership skills training is designed to increaseessential skills of women from FGM practicing communities and targetswomen from East Africa and West Africa. The approach aims to enablewomen to work towards ending FGM and to empower women and youngpeople to access needed services. The modules focus on confidencebuilding; communication and facilitation skills; FGM law and safeguardingchildren and FGM and sexual and reproductive health. The presentation willalso discuss the PEER study results and Young People Speak OutProgramme and screen the 8 minute DVD- “Think Again” developed byyoung women for raising awareness.FGM: Policy Development in the UKThis presentation will review UK Policy on FGM in recent years andhighlight the need to strike a balance between prosecution, provision andprevention. It will examine UK’s legal and safeguarding policy and the newmulti-agency guidelines for professionals. It will outline barriers to effectiveimplementation of existing policies and absence of prosecution in the UK.The presentation will close with a review of the END FGM EuropeanCampaign strategy recommendations for effective action on tackling FGMwithin Europe based on five key dimensions; data collection, health,violence against women and girls, asylum and development cooperation.Liette Perron is a graduate of theUniversity of Ottawa and has worked in Canadafor many years in community basedorganizations offering services for womenvictims of gender violence. Internally, she alsoworked as a Canadian volunteer in the socialdevelopment field in Egypt and Tunisia. In1998, she joined the International Women’sHealth Program at the Society of Obstetriciansand Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) whereshe contributed to the development andmanagement of the Society’s internationalactivities in developing countries. Through herwork, she has been involved in organizationalcapacity building initiatives involvingprofessional associations in numerous countriesin Africa, Central America, South East Asia andSothern Eastern Europe. She recently completeda Masters in Social Work at Carleton University.SOGC’s Policy Statement and GuidelineRelated to FGM/CIn 1992, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists ofCanada (SOGC) adopted a policy statement condemningthe practice of female genital mutilation. The statementclearly declared the practice never medically indicated andfurther, recommended that physicians performing theprocedure be reported to their provincial licensing bodies.The document further encouraged Canadian physiciansproviding services to women who have been subjected tothe procedures to treat them with understanding andcompassion. In 2010/2011, the SOGC undertook a processto review its position statement and further develop anaccompanying clinical guideline which would strengthenthe framework for care of women with FGM in Canada.The presentation will focus on presenting the outcome ofthe review process and further, sharing a summary of theclinical guideline developed to improve access and qualityof services to women with FGM/C in Canada.For more information, contact:Paula Migliardi: paulam@serc.mb.ca OR Shereen Denetto: shereend@serc.mb.ca