DJIBOUTI HOSTS SUB-REGIONAL FGM CONFERENCE,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DJIBOUTI 000148

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/E AND DRL; PARIS, LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL KISL KWMN SCUL SOCI PGOV DJ SO
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI HOSTS SUB-REGIONAL FGM CONFERENCE,
RATIFIES MAPUTO PROTOCOL

REF: DJIBOUTI 122


1. (U) Summary: Djibouti hosted a sub-regional conference on
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) February 2-3 with aims of
raising awareness, discussing Islam's view on FGM, and the
legal and political implications of the Maputo Protocol. The
event was organized as a cooperation between the Government
of Djibouti and No Peace Without Justice, along with
financing from USAID and Djibouti-based UN agencies. The
First Lady of Djibouti and President of the Djiboutian
National Women's Union (UNFD),Kadra Mahamoud Haid, Country
Representative for the UN Development Program (UNDP),
Mbaranga Gasarabwe, and European Union Parliamentarian and
founder of No Peace without Justice, Emma Bonino, opened the
conference with pleas for zero tolerance of FGM and calls for
an end to impunity and ignorance. The First Lady's speech
also described FGM as contrary to Islam and asked for a push
to promote the improvement of life without distinction
between men and women. The conference was attended by
high-ranking Islamic authorities from the Horn of Africa and
Red Sea region and a large number of the Imams of Djibouti.
Government representatives from ten African countries were
present: Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Sudan, Yemen,
Somalia, Somaliland, Mali, and Senegal. Delegations from
Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and the United States were
also in attendance. Djibouti ended the conference with the
announcement of its ratification of the Maputo Protocol. End
Summary.


2. (U) The sub-regional conference on Female Genital
Mutilation (FGM) held in Djibouti, February 2-3, consisted of
two simultaneous sessions: a debate on Islam's position
regarding FGM, and the political and legal implementation of
the Maputo Protocol. Organizers of the conference chose Islam
as a focus due to the frequent use of religion as
justification for FGM. In a 2002 study from the Pan Arab
Project for Family Health (PAPFAM),it was proved that the
majority of women raise religious arguments to perpetuate the
tradition of FGM. Djibouti and other Horn of Africa countries
practice the most severe form of FGM known as infibulation. A
Djiboutian Ministry of Health survey of 1000 women who gave
birth at a hospital in Djibouti found that 98 percent of them
had suffered FGM. Health experts say this practice is a major
contributor to deaths in childbirth and lead to a greater
risk to women for HIV infection.


3. (U) The session on Islam's view of FGM was led by
Djibouti's Minister of Wafqs and Muslim Affairs, Mogueh Dirir
Samatar, and Senior Advisor to the Regional Director of the
East Mediterranean Office of the World Health Organization
(WHO),Dr Khayat. The session was also facilitated by Dr.
Darwish, Consultant at the Azhar University of Cairo. During
the first day of the session, participants came to the
conclusion that no solid sources exist to enforce female
circumcision after reviewing religious texts. Religious
leaders and conference organizers agreed that Pharaonic
circumcision, or infibulation, should be banned. However, the
idea of banning all circumcision was heavily protested by the
nearly 100 Imams in attendance. The religious leaders
struggled to keep Sunna circumcision, or the cutting of a
small portion of the clitoris. An agreement the second day of
the session concluded that Infibulation would be banned and
those practicing it imprisoned, but Sunna circumcision would
not be prohibited, providing it was done in a hospital by a
qualified surgeon. During the conference's second day, an
Italian surgeon resident in the Balbala hospital in Djibouti
City showed graphic photographs of women who had suffered
FGM, in order to show the religious leaders the consequences
of the practice. This action is not something that would
normally be shown to religious leaders, a fact that was
evident in the averse reaction and refusal to look at the
photos by many of the Imams.


4. (U) During the session on Islam, the religious leaders
were divided into two camps, those in favor of banning all
forms of FGM and those that were unwilling to consider
banning any form of FGM. Egypt and Sudan were among those
pushing for bans on all forms of FGM, while countries like
Djibouti and Ethiopia were adamantly opposed. The Ethiopian
representative's speech to the group criticized the western
world as trying "to impose its choices on us so that we put
aside our values, beliefs and religion. Why don't they stop
homosexuality, lesbianism and HIV/AIDS?" The coordinator
called for participants to discuss the topic at hand and not
make it a venue for political speeches. However, an Imam from
Djibouti continued with the same critiques, urging Islamic
countries not to give way to western bad intentions.


5. (U) In a printed statement included in programs handed out
to participants, President Guelleh made a firm stand against
FGM and called for the abandonment of the practice. He
stated: "Concerning what we call Pharaonic circumcision, I
want to emphasize that we no longer want it practiced by
Arabs, nor by Somalis, nor by Afars, nor in any other form.
When we declare: Stop this form of circumcision (pharaonic),
this implicitly suggests that we accept the perpetuation of
other forms; no female circumcision is justifiable. In truth,
we, as men, consider female circumcision as a women's affairs
and moreover, the women encourage us in this respect by
saying it is an issue exclusively reserved for women. But
despite this, we can no longer turn our backs on our
responsibility in this specific case. If we accept being kept
out of the issue, that says that we condone this act. If you
(women) practice this act in ignorance, or continue the
tradition, it has been proven that circumcision is not
recommended by either the Quran, or the Hadith. Furthermore,
our Creator has clearly stated that the Human Being is the
most perfect of his creations. We cannot perfect what is
already done, so let us abandon this practice."


6. (SBU) Comment: The Government of Djibouti, led by
President Guelleh and his wife, has shown a great deal of
political will to end FGM practices through this conference
and the ratification of the Maputo Protocol. However, for any
real change to occur, the Government must educate the general
population and be willing to enforce their new commitment
through rigorous laws against FGM and stiff penalties for
violations. End Comment.
RAGSDALE