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| Aims and Objectives |
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The Organisation’s Aims are: |
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To promote the reproductive and sexual health and the rights of African women wherever they are, through eliminating gender discrimination, violence, abduction, early and forced marriage which violate women's human rights and adversely affects their health and well-being.
To advance education about the physical and emotional effects of the practice of female genital mutilation and to promote the elimination of this wherever possible in any part of the world.
To promote the good and general well-being of black women in London.
To campaign against the practice of Female Genital Mutilation, based upon the fullest involvement of the women concerned.
To promote research on the medical, social and psychological implication of Female Genital Mutilation.
To produce educational material for the community, voluntary and statutory sectors so that they are better informed.
To develop a network of information exchange with groups in the UK and internationally.
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Image: Women applauding at one of our events
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Objectives: |
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1. To adopt a clear policy for the eradication of female genital mutilation, including where appropriate, the enactment of legislation prohibiting it.
e.g. launch of BWHAFS’s FGM policy document on 9th June 1999.
2. To support research in all aspects of female genital mutilation, including the incidence, prevalence, main reasons why female genital mutilation continues to be practised, and health consequences as well as the design of appropriate interventions for eliminating it.
e.g. collaboration and publication of research study of with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in 1998.
3. To organise community outreach and information and educational programmes involving family decision makers.
e.g. carry out continuous outreach programmes and run health education workshops.
4. To integrate action to eliminate FGM into existing health education, child protection and community development efforts.
e.g. conferences and seminars.
5. To use consistent messages and all available channels of media to communicate information to all sectors of the public.
e.g. publication of information leaflets.
6. To ensure that there is appropriate care and support for women and girls who have suffered problems with FGM, including counselling so that women and adolescent girls have an opportunity to express their fears and concerns about their sexual and reproductive health.
e.g. the counselling service, campaign for specific FGM clinic.
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7. To support the development of women’s groups to serve as a catalyst for discussions about FGM where it was formerly considered taboo.
e.g. Wandsworth Women’s and Children’s Project
8. To encourage alternative rites of passage for young girls, which involve gift giving and celebration and help promote positive female traditional values, without causing physical and psychological damage to girls.
e.g. women's groups and women's networks.
9. To target young people and provide information, guidance and support for their health and social development.
e.g. Somali Youth Development Project
10. To enlist the participation of men so that as women’s attitudes begin to change they find support among male members of family and community.
e.g. international conferences, working with religious leaders.
11. To develop training modules and packages for training of trainers in strategies for the prevention of FGM and in the management of its health consequences.
e.g. FGM training workshops.
12. To plan and deliver educational programmes for health workers, women’s and men’s groups, adolescent and young people.
e.g. training workshops for professionals.
Image: Speaking out against FGM at our 'Advancing in Unity' Conference
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