Listening to African Voices - FPZ

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sions questioning the practice and encouraging attitudechanges. Furthermore, immigrants belonging to thesepopulations need to be informed about FGM/C in casethat they marry into a practicing family.The table below provides important indications on howto direct awareness-raising activities. The second columngives an approximate estimate of the total number of immigrantsliving in Hamburg from a particular community.The estimates are founded on impressions gathered duringthe research and might, thus, be inadequate. The followingcountries are not included in the typology due to insufficientdata: Eritrea, Sudan, Senegal, Liberia, Guinea Bissauand Sierra Leone. We recommend that more information becollected on the immigrant populations from these countries.The data from Burkina Faso and Benin might also need to becompleted with more interviews.Apart from the typologies, the following paragraphs outlinea brief summary of the findings for the various immigrantcommunities from Sub-Saharan Africa by country of origin.6.6.2. GhanaThe Ghanaian immigrant population affected by FGM/C isvery small. Except for a handful of supporters, the communityis against FGM/C or indifferent towards the practice. Theresults indicated that FGM/C is not practiced in Hamburg byGhanaian immigrant communities and that the risk for girlsof Ghanaian origin is low.6.6.3. TogoA significant part of the Togolese immigrants in Hamburghas roots in practicing ethnic groups, in the group of the Kotokoli35 in particular. The members of the practicing familiesare mostly Muslim and segregate themselves from the Germanpopulation. The findings indicate that the proportionof women and girls at risk living in Hamburg is considerablyhigher than the prevalence rate for their country of origin.The status of women is low within the Togolese Muslim communities.Even if against FGM/C, the women lack decision-Table 38: Typology of FGM/C of immigrant populations from Sub-Saharan Africa in HamburgEstimation of numberProfile of country or regionCountries/Regionsof immigrants inHamburg FGM/C prevalenceProportion of concernedwomenRisk for girls 36 to besubjected to FGM/CImmigrant populations with little or no need for interventionsGhana (Southern region) > 5000 Low Zero to low Very lowTogo (Southern region) ¬ 600 Low Zero to low Very lowBenin (Southern region) ¬ 200 Low Zero to low Very lowCameroon ¬ 500 Low Zero to low Very lowNiger < 100 Low Zero to low Very lowImmigrant populations with moderate need for interventionsKenya < 300 Moderate Moderate LowEthiopia < 200 High High LowCote d’Ivoire ¬ 500 Moderate Moderate to high Low to moderateNorthern Ghana ¬ 30 Moderate Moderate Low to moderateImmigrant populations with high need for interventionsNigeria ¬1500 Moderate High Moderate to highGuinea > 200 High High Moderate to highGambia ¬ 500 high High ModerateNorthern and Central Togo ¬ 800 Moderate Moderate ModerateNorthern Benin ¬ 250 Moderate High ModerateBurkina Faso 33 ¬ 250 High High ModerateMali 34 < 100 High high Moderate33 The practices of the immigrant communities from Burkina Fasoneed to be further explored.34 The practices of the immigrant communities from Mali need to befurther explored.35 Also named Tem36 Girls growing up in Hamburg. The estimate does not include girlsgrowing up in AfricaListening to African Voices 91
making power to protect their daughters from harmfultraditional practices during holidays in Togo. It is thereforeimaginable that girls could be subjected to the practice intheir community of origin during holidays. There was no indication,however, that FGM/C is carried out by the Togolesecommunity on German soil.6.6.4. NigeriaThe findings indicate that more than half of the immigrantsof Nigerian origin are from practicing families. Furthermore,the proportion of immigrants perceiving FGM/C as anadvantageous practice is high and, at the same time, theknowledge of risks and disadvantages of FGM/C is weak andrather superficial, particularly among men. Although mostimmigrants of Nigerian origin are aware of the law, a minoritydisplays a strong determination to preserve FGM/C as atradition. The proportion of men advocating for the continuationof FGM/C is considerably higher than that of women.Almost half of the women interviewed had undergoneFGM/C and it can be assumed that the prevalence amongimmigrant women in Hamburg is notably higher than theprevalence rate for their country. The findings concerningthe status of daughters imply that there are girls in Hamburgat risk of being subjected to FGM/C. The law, however, has astrong dissuasive effect. One of the researchers summarisedher impressions as follows:“Without the law, certain Nigerian men would definitelydo it [FGM/C]. But as immigrants in Germany, they wouldnot jeopardise their status. Although they speak stronglyin favour of the practice, their status and survival inGermany is their priority and not FGM/C. Status alwayscomes first. The women, on the other hand, none of themis really in favour. Those over 45 years of age are verystrong leaders.” (woman researcher of Kenyan origin)6.6.5. CameroonThe majority of immigrants living in Hamburg are fromnon-practicing groups. Nonetheless, there is a small numberof women who underwent FGM/C in Cameroon beforemigrating to Germany. There were, however, no signs of girlsat risk.Furthermore, most Cameroonian immigrants are universitystudents with solid knowledge of the consequences ofFGM/C and about the position of the German legislationtowards the practice. It can be concluded that the need forawareness raising and follow-up in the Cameroonian immigrantcommunity will be limited to a couple of isolated cases.6.6.6. The GambiaMost Gambian immigrants associate FGM/C with one orseveral advantages while the awareness of hazards andnegative outcomes is low. The findings indicate also that thelarge majority of Gambian women have undergone FGM/C.Daughters of immigrants growing up in The Gambia are athigh risk of having undergone FGM/C or of undergoing it inthe future. Girls born in Germany benefit from more protection,but can be at risk of being subjected to the practiceduring holidays in their country of origin. The Gambiancommunity is well organised and individuals have startedto put the parents of daughters planning to travel on guardby advising them to protect their children from FGM/C.This type of initiative should be strengthened to effectivelyprevent FGM/C among Gambian immigrant daughters.6.6.7. Cote d’IvoireThe greater part of the Ivorian community has roots inpracticing groups and families and it can be assumed that asignificant proportion of Ivorian women immigrants has beensubjected to the practice. In the cohort of daughters growingup in Germany, however, FGM/C seems to be limited toa few exceptional cases. Most Ivorian immigrants are fromurban areas, comparatively worldly and express openness tocompling with the rules of the host society including respectingthe prohibition of FGM/C. Their awareness of the risksand medical complications is relatively high.6.6.8. KenyaThe interviewed sample was too small to draw definiteconclusions regarding the situation of FGM/C in the Kenyanimmigrant community in Hamburg. It can be assumed thatthe proportion of women who have undergone FGM/C isclose to the estimate of prevalence in Kenya. There is strongawareness of the harm posed by FGM/C and of the prohibitionof FGM/C in Germany among the Kenyan immigrantpopulation. The probability of a daughter growing up inHamburg being subjected to FGM/C seems to be very low.6.6.9. BeninThe immigrant community from Benin is divided into twosegments: those who identify with ethnic groups from oneof the four northern regions (mostly Muslims) and thosewho are affiliated with one of the southern regions (mostlyChristians and traditional religions). Among Muslim immigrantsfrom the northern regions, FGM/C is widespread andthe number of women concerned is significant. Key informantsestimated that immigrants from the northern regions aremore numerous than those from the South. It can be concluded,hence, that the number of women and girls concerned is92Listening to African Voices
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Cover photo: Plan/Alf Berg - “Gir
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Within the cohort of daughters of t
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• To explore the level of awarene
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12Listening to African Voices
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• Many of them are struggling to
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1 The interviewers approached diver
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that even close friends and people
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cies. 9 The table below displays th
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4.7. FGM/C in Germany4.7.1. Estimat
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26Listening to African Voices
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illegally in Hamburg. The table is
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The largest proportions of intervie
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Reactions to the research topicThe
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A small proportion of parents annou
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Germany. Some participants reported
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In order to determine the proportio
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Page 45 and 46: gin of the immigrants (see map in a
Page 47 and 48: of the Muslims believe that practic
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Page 73 and 74: Table 36: Proportion of women and m
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Page 77 and 78: that FGM/C had been carried out in
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Page 81 and 82: 5.7.2.4. Low awareness and indiffer
Page 83 and 84: “The problem of female circumcisi
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Page 89 and 90: and an acceptable job, uniting the
Page 91: Daughters who were born in Africa a
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Page 97 and 98: • In order to encourage an attitu
Page 99 and 100: BEHAVIOR CHANGE MODEL: Abolition of
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Page 103 and 104: 8.3. Question list for key informan
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Page 107 and 108: Evaluation of girls at riskQ214 CHE
Page 109 and 110: 8.6. Questionnaire for quantitative
Page 111 and 112: Evaluation of girls at riskQ214 CHE
Page 113 and 114: 8.7. Map of the geographical spread
Page 115 and 116: 8.9. Map of the geographical spread
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