Program Updates
July 2023
Women Deliver 2023- Kigali, Rwanda
The Women Deliver 2023 Conference (WD 2023) took place in-person, as well as virtually, from July 17-20th in Kigali, Rwanda. Being the largest gender- equality conference in the world roughly 6,000 attended in Kigali, and over 200,000 people online. Our National Director, Alisa Tukkimäki and National Network Coordinator, Warda Warsame attended in person. This conference was crucial for the global anti-FGM/C movement as it provided a platform for activists, frontline workers, networks and organizations to gather in person to share strategies, tools, stories and generate collaborative solutions to ending FGM/C.
For our team at End FGM Canada Network, we not only connected with our international colleagues but made valuable connections with Canadian Ministers and MPs with the promise of further discussion and action on FGM/C in Canada.
Alisa Tukkimaki-National Director, The Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth of Canada, Warda Warsame- National Network Coordinator
Alisa Tukkimaki-National Director, The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan,
Warda Warsame- National Network Coordinator
Cohosting Catalyzing Global Action to End FGM/C - A Pre- Conference at Women Deliver 2023
On July16th, End FGM Canada Network, as a member of the Global Platform for Action to End FGM/C co-hosted this year’s Pre-conference on FGM/C - Catalyzing Global Action to End FGM/C.
About the FGM/C Pre-Conference:
The FGM/C Pre-Conference, Catalyzing Global Action to End FGM/C, was a space of shared solidarity, bringing together activists and organizations working to end FGM/C across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and America. It promoted knowledge exchange, interregional collaboration, and global cooperation with the aim of catalyzing collective action and movement building, designing actionable commitments, and working toward substantive structural change.
As part of the conference, one panel session during the day that included funders of the FGM/C field included, ‘From Rhetoric to Reality: Closing the Funding Gap and Uniting for Action to End Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting’. This was a precursor to the launch of the Kigali Declaration that day. This declaration includes a call for a global summit dedicated too funding the end of this harmful practice. The Declaration emphasizes the need to shift funding to grassroots organizations and aims to mobilize donors and stakeholders to invest in the movement and bridge the funding gap- where only $4 available to avert each case of FGM/C, when $95 is required. By galvanizing support and resources, significant strides can be made to end FGM/C.
October 11, 2022
End FGM Canada Network : A Panel Discussion the Realities of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) in Canada (Recording)
This webinar was held on October 11th, marking the 10th anniversary of the International Day of the Girl Child(IDG), with this year’s theme examining the rights and futures of girls worldwide.
Our webinar considered this theme by providing insights into FGM/C, examining how the issue presents within a Canadian context and how teachers, child protection specialists, and frontline workers can advocate for girls by standing up to the practice of FGM/C present in many communities across Canada.
Please watch and share our recorded webinar here.
French translation available here.
Introducing Miss Klitty!
The End FGM Canada Network is proud to introduce “Miss Klitty” - our latest educational campaign to normalize discussion of all parts of the human body and remove the shame and stigma once and for all. Feel free to download and tag #MissKlitty and the #EndFGMCanada Network in all your tweets, IG, FB, TikTok posts and reels.
June 3, 2022
Equal Futures: Gender Equality Summit 2022
End FGM Canada Network will be at the WAGE/Equal Futures: Gender Equality Summit 2022 on June 7-8. Come say hello and pick up some free Miss Klitty stickers.
January 22, 2022
‘Joining Hands’
We are happy to announce that we have received substantial funding from the Department of Women and Gender Equality (WAGE) for our “Joining Hands” project.
The focus of the Joining Hands Project is to create systems of support for girls in Canada at risk of FGM/C and survivors through informed professionals across health, mental health, education, and child protection sectors.
This project will create online interactive education modules for professionals involved in the care of FGM/C survivors and in protecting girls at risk. We will address knowledge gaps in health, mental health, education, and child protection areas through modules in both official languages. We aim to do this in partnership with survivors and key FGM/C professionals. We will also host quarterly ongoing sector-specific bilingual webinars with national and international experts, to enhance understanding of issues surrounding FGM/C among both Canadian professionals and the Canadian public.
We are looking forward to ‘joining hands’ with Canadian stakeholders and partners on this project as we address systemic barriers by advancing inclusive policies and practices, increasing knowledge, and building networks and collaborations to accelerate systemic change.
If you would like to be involved in this project please contact Alisa Tukkimaki (alisa@endfgm.ca)!
July 8, 2021
Canada Committee Against Torture (CAT) Submission 2021
Our joint submission to the UN Committee Against Torture details our concerns about the continued prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) in Canada and the failure of the Canadian government to take concrete and effective action to end FGM/C in Canada and provide support for survivors, which constitute a violation of its obligation under Article 2 (obligation to prevent torture, including through legislative measures) of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (“the Convention”) to address FGM/C.
Submitted by the End FGM Canada Network and Equality Now.
May 26, 2021
Canada must accelerate its efforts to protect girls and women from Female Genital Mutilation
End FGM Canada Network and Equality Now’s joint list of issues submitted to the Human Rights Committee 132nd Session June 2021
The following submission, made in advance of the 132nd session of the Human Rights Committee, covers our concerns about the continued prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation in Canada and the failure of the Canadian government to take concrete and effective action to protect girls at risk of FGM and provide support for survivors. In this submission, we recommend questions to be asked to Canada by the committee and suggestions on the actions needed to protect women and girls from FGM in Canada. Sign our petition to End FGM in Canada now.
Submitted by: End FGM Canada Network and Equality Now
February 6, 2021