Community behaviour change

A complete analysis of the phenomenon has to take into account various aspects of the problem, such as the following:

• FGM is due to a complex of social, cultural and religious factors, involving the family and the community.

• FGM is a social norm that is deeply-rooted in the community and puts pressure on the families to perpetuate the practice.

• The social norms are interconnected, meaning that FGM cannot be addressed in isolation.

• Legislative frameworks and enforcement are necessary but not sufficient to win the fight against FGM.

Main Activities:

• Involvement in the FGM issue of key members of the community belonging to different sectors and generations – second generation, community leaders, women who have undergone FGM, religious leaders, newly wed couples, blogger and media journalists.

• Adaptation of available training in Behaviour Change Communication and Intercultural Communication related to FGM.

• Identification and engagement of highly committed members of the community to participate in the training phase and become “Positive Deviants”.

• Training of “Positive Deviants”, through a cycle of workshops related to the transversal issues of FGM, such as the social dynamics and knowledge of FGM, communication skills on how to engage members of the community, behaviour change activities and creation of peer networking.