A film About Female Genital Mutilation

Campaign Against Female Genital Mutilation

Circumcision medicine Source: CFC \ Uche James Iroha

CFC's campaign objectives were to screen the documentary Uncut! Playing with Life! in three cities, to hold panel discussions, to develop and distribute advocacy materials, and to increase media awareness about the need to eliminate FGM. The campaign was also meant to strengthen the outreach of 25 non-governmental and community based organizations through provision of the film, and to provide the documentary to all television stations in the country as well as to long-distance national bus transporters. Finally, the campaign activities included evaluative research to ascertain message impact.

Nurses at the film launch in Benin, Edo State Source: CFC \ Moses Momodu

The campaign kicked off with the screening of Uncut! Playing With Life in Akure to mark the United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace on March 4^th, 2002. Almost a month later, the film was screened on April 3^rd and 4^th in Benin City and Lagos to mark World Health Day. The project team chose these cities because the prevalence of female genital mutilation is very high in and around Akure and Benin; Lagos was chosen because it is the commercial and media hub of the nation.

CFC co-hosted the launch activities in partnership with key organizations who have spearheaded local anti-FGM campaign activities for years: the Women's Health and Action Research Center (WHARC) in Benin, the Country Women's Association of Nigeria (COWAN) in Akure and the Performance Studio Workshop (PSW) in Lagos. The launch was attended by 871 people from a very wide cross section of society, including 105 journalists, 165 students and teachers from different schools and universities, 23 clergy, 42 government officials, and 536 members of the general public.

PSW's performance during the film launch Source: CFC \ Moses Momodu

In order to create a very moving and impressive introduction to the film show and panel discussion, the Performance Studio Workshop performed the most compelling scene from their play Ikpiko and Other Inquiries After the Fact which was featured in the film. This powerful drama which was choreographed with a dynamic dance sequence that symbolized the "breaking of the code of silence" proved to be a spellbinding introduction to the difficult issue of female genital mutilation; some members of the audience couldn't believe that the "real-live-testimonies" were actually performed by actors.

Members of the panel at the Benin Launch Source: CFC \ Moses Momodu

Panel presentations by experts in the areas of governance and policy formulation, tradition, rights, medicine, health, and communications followed the film screening. The panels in the 3 states were made up of dignitaries as well as government and non-governmental experts including the Ondo State Commissioner for Women Affairs, the Commissioner for Information in Edo State, a representative of the Ekiti State Commissioner for Women Affairs, a representative of the First Lady of Lagos State, a representative of the Governor of Lagos State, two representatives of the Lagos State Ministries of Health and Information, a representative of the Edo State Speaker of the House of Assembly, two traditional chiefs, three circumcisers, the President of the Inter Africa Committee on the Harmful Traditional Practices in Nigeria, the World Health Organization's Special Advisor on Primary Health Care, as well as the Executive Directors of WHARC, PSW, COWAN & CFC.

A member of the audience commenting on the film launch Source: CFC \ Moses Momodu

An interactive question-and-answer session after the panel presentations allowed audiences to air their views on female genital mutilation, and ask questions. All launch attendees received information brochures on female genital mutilation, as well as other educational print materials on the film and FGM statistics in Nigeria.

Students filling questionnaire at the film launch Source: CFC \ Moses Momodu

Evaluative research was done through questionnaires being completed by the audience after the film show. The research findings revealed that the film had a very positive impact on the audience. Fifty-nine percent of the audience in Benin, 74% in Akure and 61% in Lagos affirmed that the film prompted them to think differently about FGM. Ninety percent of the audience strongly concurred that FGM is a problem and 93% expressed support for the idea of discouraging FGM in Nigeria. Lastly, ninety-four percent of respondents expressed willingness to share information obtained from the film with someone else.

Mrs. Sandra Mbanefo Obiago, Executive Director of Communicating for Change, giving a copy of the film to Mr. Olabode, the Director, Programs, Channels Television. Source: CFC \ Margare Mike-Pearse

To strengthen the impact of launch activities the film was distributed to all 66 television stations in the country to mark World Health Day on April 7th, 2002. Although it has been very difficult getting feedback from stations, 14 broadcasters from 12 states (of the 36 states of the federation) confirmed that they aired the film. The most impressive breakthrough came from Ekiti state, which has the highest prevalence of FGM in the country; Ekiti State Broadcasting Service confirmed that they aired the film three times already. This revelation strongly supports the assumption that working in partnership with Nigerian broadcasters greatly increased the reach and impact of the campaign.

Films were distributed free of charge to the media, bus companies, non-governmental organizations and grassroots groups, government agencies and representatives, to medical practitioners, traditional rulers & circumcisers.

A talk show on FGM on NTA 2 channel 5 Source: CFC \ Margaret Adaba

In order to strengthen the general public's awareness of female genital mutilation CFC invited journalists to the launch and followed this up with visits to media organizations in Lagos. CFC spent two weeks after the launch visiting radio, television and print media and making special presentations to editors and correspondents. The launch was also covered by a number of international news agencies.

The campaign was a collaborative effort and was a great success. The launch was funded by the British High Commission and the Ford Foundation. CFC was successful in working with dynamic civil society and broadcast partners to get information about the need to eliminate FGM to a very wide audience in Nigeria. Research findings showed that the ground is fertile for anti-FGM legislation, because over 90% of the audience feel that FGM should be stopped in Nigeria. What is significant about this feedback is that it comes from people living in states with the highest national prevalence of FGM in the country.