Every girl is born “Saleema”. Let every girl grow “Saleema”

A few days ago I went to an inspirational event. It was the launch of the Saleema Regional Forum. Saleema (which means intact, whole, as created by God) is the Sudanese campaign to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The event was packed with committed, energetic women. Prominent among them were Dr Samira Amin Ahmed, who is the “mother” of the Saleema model of social change and Mrs Amal Mahmoud, Secretary General of the National Council of Child Welfare which is the Government body leading on ending FGM.

The prevalence of FGM is around 89% in Sudan. There have been sporadic attempts over decades to end the practice, without success. But Saleema is different. It is a carefully constructed, long-term, bottom-up campaign with the ambitious target of ending FGM by 2018. The way to do this is to change social norms. So the focus is on education, raising awareness of the dangers and dissociating the practice from any religious connotation. Saleema aims to empower women themselves to champion a new culture in which FGM is the exception rather than (as now) the norm, to form networks and to protect their daughters. Legislation to outlaw FGM is also important. Sadly a clause making FGM illegal was taken out of the 2009 Childrens Act at the last minute. We hope that Sudan will soon make FGM illegal national wide. That would be a practical and symbolic demonstration of the Government’s commitment to end the practice. Meanwhile, 5 Sudanese States have passed legislation to this effect.

Success is difficult to measure. But surveys of villages where Saleema has been active suggests that it is indeed making impact. So much so that other countries are keen to learn, and benefit from, the Sudanese experience. This was one of the reasons for the regional conference.

The UK is proud to support Saleema. We do this because it is right for Sudanese women and girls. But our support is also one aspect of our leadership role in combating FGM worldwide. It is practised in 29 countries and in immigrant communities across the western world, including the UK where we estimate 66,000 women and girls have experienced FGM and a further 20,000 girls under 15 are at risk every year.

So in July we, together with UNICEF, invited over 50 countries and a host of not-governmental organisations to a summit in London to address the related issues of FGM and forced and early marriage. The Prime Minister hosted. The primary objective of the meeting was to rally global action on tackling these issues. All participants were encouraged to make commitments setting out what more they could do.

For our part, we introduced legislation in 2003 making FGM and aiding and abetting FGM an offence punishable with up to 14 years imprisonment. This includes British Nationals who take girls overseas, for example to Sudan, in order to commit FGM. There have been several prosecutions in the UK recently (not related to Sudan).

The Summit was a huge success. Participants came up with a range of commitments, some financial, others for various actions, e.g. a commitment to produce a new national plan or to raise public awareness in the local community. Sudan was represented by Mrs Amal Mahmoud who signed the Girl Summit Charter on behalf of Sudan. The Charter affirms, among other things, that no one should be forced into marriage, or made to marry while still a child and that no girl or woman should have to endure the physical and psychological effects of female genital mutilation. She committed Sudan to continuing the campaign to end FGM through Saleema.

Saleema is very much a Sudanese initiative, led by Sudanese women with support from government and influential figures (including religious leaders) across society. It sets out to tackle a complex issue in a sensitive, inclusive, effective manner. It’s an approach that would work well in addressing many other issues in Sudan.