Vitor Almeida - Senior Advisor in the Portuguese Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality, Government of Portugal - DFID Girl Summit 2014

Spotlight B2 - "Bringing it all Together: Ending FGM Through Strong and Effective National Action"

Context: This presentation is from one of the 14 "Spotlights on Progress" video-recorded sessions from the Girl Summit 2014, London, United Kingdom (UK). The sessions were organised to share best practice between practitioners, grassroots activists, and government ministers across the issues of female genital mutilation (FGM) (also FGM/C - female genital mutilation/cutting) and child, early, and forced marriage (CEFM). The Girl Summit is a project of the Department for International Development (DFID), UK.

Profile of speaker: Vitor Almeida has worked with the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality (CIG) since 2009. Currently Senior Advisor, he has also served as Technical Coordination Manager of the III Action Plan for the elimination of FGM and as focal point for the strategies related to social inclusion and mass communication areas as part of the V National Plan for Gender Equality, Citizenship and Non-Discrimination 2014-2017. An official department of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and constitutes the Government's mechanism for the promotion of citizenship and gender equality, CIG consists of the President, the Consultative Council (comprising an Interministerial Section, a Section of non-governmental organisations, or NGOs), and a Technical and Scientific Advisory Group. CIG is responsible for the implementation of public policy instruments designed to promote gender equality.

Strategy overview: In his presentation "Intersectorial Group on FGM in Portugal", which can be viewed in the video below, Mr. Almeida explains that the inter-sectorial group is responsible for developing and implementing policy measures toward ending FGM. CIG assumes a coordinating role for this Group.

The Group is currently implementing their Third Programme of Action for the elimination of FGM (2014-17), which is aimed at promoting behavioural and attitudinal changes in communities that practice FGM. The Group includes a diverse range of actors including those from the following sectors: health, reproductive and sexual rights, justice, immigration, equality, development cooperation, and education. The Group is composed of public administration bodies, international organisations, and NGOs. It meets every two months. It was been acclaimed as demonstrating good practice by the European Institute for Gender Equality in 2013.

Mr. Almeida elaborated, explaining that the Portuguese model of best practice was based on 4 factors:

1. A multi-disciplinary group which allowed partnership between public administration, international organisations, and NGOs. This brought unity and continuous learning.
2. A health-based approach, including the involvement of the Ministry of Health and political and professional health leaders.
3. Advocacy, by, notably, a "fiery NGO", which had raised the profile of FGM in the political and public domains.
4. Work with communities, including with immigrant associations and NGOs.

From the "One Year On" [PDF] report:

"Since the Girl Summit 2014, several activities have taken place in Portugal, under the Third Program of Action for the Prevention and Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation 2014-2017. Interventions have been particularly focused on the health sector. Two new postgraduate courses have been promoted in Greater Lisbon, targeted at health professionals who work in areas of greatest risk. These prepare doctors and nurses to provide training for and raise awareness among local stakeholders such as commissions for protection of child rights, NGOs [non-governmental organisations], immigrants associations and teachers. Sensitizing, preventing, informing and training are priorities, as well as the legal dimension of FGM....Early last year, three proposals to change the Criminal Code were presented in the Portuguese Parliament, in order to make FGM a specific criminal offence. This process will be concluded in mid-2015. A prevalence study on FGM in Portugal will soon be complete. This will make it possible to identify, more precisely, the number of girls and women who have undergone FGM (and at what age) or are at risk, where FGM is practiced. It will include analysis of affected communities' perceptions of FGM and of national policies, which will contribute to the development of further prevention strategies."

Overview of this Summit session: Speakers from African and European countries came together in this session to discuss what they have done to ensure coordinated and comprehensive national action towards ending FGM in their own countries and seek insight from each other's experiences. They talk about how they have creatively brought together diverse groups to achieve consensus on what needs to happen to end FGM, highlighting critical steps towards success as well as challenges. Following an opening by Cathy Russell, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues, United States, the speakers, in order of appearance, are:

• Hon. Dr Linah Jebii Kilimo, Chair of the Anti-FGM Board, Kenya
• Dr. Alain P. Zoubga, Minister for Social Action and National Solidarity, Government of Burkina Faso
• Norman Baker, MP Minister of State for Crime Prevention, Government of the United Kingdom
• Zsanett Shashaty, Anti-Slavery Officer for the Welsh Government
• Vitor Almeida, Senior Advisor in the Portuguese Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality, Government of Portugal
• Dr. Morissanda Kouyate, Executive Director, Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices

The session was moderated by Susan Bookbinder, who is a journalist, broadcaster, columnist and media consultant with a particular focus on FGM.

Footage of this (available below) presentation and others are available on DFID’s YouTube channel.

The Girl Summit is a project of DFID. Click here and scroll down to see the full list of individuals and organisations committed to working on girls' issues, as well as a list of Girl Summit Charter signatories.