Intergenerational participation in a workshop to debate female genital mutilation in Vic
As part of the Chat Plus project, on Tuesday, December 12th, a workshop was held in the Joan Triadú community centre in Vic where some fifty people from diverse cultures, religions, origins, and of different sexes and ages took part in a debate about the practice of female genital mutilation.
In this workshop, Uma Jawo, an expert on the topic, presented the Chat Plus - Changing Attitude Plus project to the attendees. This programme, co-funded by the European Union’s Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme (CERV) seeks a behaviour change towards FGM in Europe, with the fundamental help of young generations.
The debate, which lasted more than two hours, covered the sexualisation of women in society, and the multiple types of violence women face for the simple fact of being women, both here and in other countries from other continents. The attendees, comprising children, young people, and men and women of different ages, also spoke of men’s involvement and responsibility in this practice and of how it is crucially important that they participate in these spaces. It is evident from the conversations held that female genital mutilation has no colour, country or religion; it is a global problem.
During the session, survivors of this practice shared their personal experiences, as well as the psychological, physical and social consequences the majority of them face and live with as a result of this practice, or for refusing it.
With a view to bringing about a change in the involvement of new generations, a group of young people aged 15 to 30 expressed their willingness to take part in the initiative.