RFLD Blog
This article is written by the Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement (RFLD).
RFLD’s expertise is linked to inclusive development through the application of approaches based on the protection and promotion of human rights, gender mainstreaming and gender equality in policy-making at national, local and regional levels.
To collaborate with RFLD, please contact us at admin@rflgd.org.
Female genital mutilation is one of the most virulent realities in Africa. Despite numerous awareness-raising campaigns and the introduction of legal provisions to eradicate the phenomenon, it is abundantly clear that FGM still exists. The FGM situation is such that greater mobilization is needed to put an end to it. The media have a major role to play in this mobilization for the eradication of FGM. Close to grassroots communities and a preferred and respected channel for disseminating information, the media are an essential alternative for raising awareness, informing and educating people about the dangers of FGM.
Media involvement in the fight against FGM: current situation in a number of West African countries
In Africa in general, the press is a power. Its primary role is to inform, but beyond that, it is a highly effective channel for education. This is because the media, and radio in particular, are at the heart of local development. The press is practically the center towards which all the components of society converge. While in the most advanced environments, social networks and digital platforms have taken the place of traditional information channels, in rural areas, villages, hamlets, etc., radio is the only means of information. It’s the only way to connect with the world, find out what’s going on and, above all, have fun. It’s precisely with this in mind that the popularization of public policies goes through this channel. Better still, in any project to raise public awareness of a major phenomenon, radio is the most widely used information medium.
Despite this strength, in the case of FGM, media involvement in the fight is not really a reality. Awareness-raising policies for the eradication of genital mutilation in West Africa are very limited in scope. It’s true that progress has been made and bad practices have been abandoned, but because the press is virtually absent in the field, FGM continues to be rampant. Certainly, the press’s near-demission in mobilizing against the phenomenon is one of the things that justifies the persistence of the problem despite the resolve of states to combat it.
What explains the media’s lack of involvement?
In West Africa, the low level of media involvement in the fight against genital mutilation is due to 2 fundamental causes: cultural reality and lack of resources.
With regard to the first cause, we need to start by presenting the cultural context to better understand what this is all about. The press is intrinsically linked to the cultural realities of the territory in which it operates. Over and above the professional work that is done, each press station set up in a given environment is often subject to the cultural norms in vogue in the region. This can be seen on two levels: the first is the media professional’s penchant for defending the values of his or her milieu. This is especially true in rural areas, where journalists are called upon to communicate in the local language. Since perfect mastery of the language is a challenge, most media outlets are obliged to rely on local labor for this task. Finally, the journalist who is called upon to inform, raise awareness and subsequently educate is a national of the same locality. It is therefore difficult for him to take a contrary position, even if he has witnessed the horrors of FGM. Whatever his new convictions, involvement in the fight proves to be a risk of denying his culture. Worse still, he may quickly incur the wrath of the local guardians of tradition, for whom he will be virtually unwelcome. The second level of manifestation of the press’s subjection to cultural norms relates to the quest for an audience. Indeed, every press organization lives from its audience. Note that a media organization is first and foremost a business, and a radio station, for example, without a following has no way of making a return on its investment. However, taking the lead in eradicating FGM is a way of scratching sensitivities and exposing oneself to mistrust. As a result, the news station’s audience is falling, which doesn’t really help.
About lack of resources
In Africa, no matter how committed the media may be, there is one problem that hampers their determination to work for an end to FGM. That problem is lack of resources. This is essentially a lack of funds and technical tools. Fighting against FGM requires media professionals to go out into the field, first to investigate, then to gather opinions before getting involved in raising awareness. However, in most African countries, few independent media have the resources to embark on such an adventure. This forces them to do the bare minimum, or leave the field empty.
Involvement of the media in the fight against FGM: what ideal to advocate?
If we are to put an end to genital mutilation in West Africa, it’s clear that the media must play a key role. But given the difficulties they face, we need to start putting in place certain guarantees to enable professionals to really get involved and get things moving.
The first guarantee is support. This support must cover both training and technical assistance. Indeed, to enable the media to inform, raise awareness and educate the public so that they abandon the abject practice of FGM once and for all, we need to start training journalists and all those who, in one way or another, have to intervene in the process. This can be summed up in a few workshops, the aim of which is to give them all the tools they need to explain the dangers of FGM. The training should also serve as a basis for setting up a network of media professionals specializing in FGM issues, so as to enable journalists to be part of an overall initiative. Beyond this, training should also enable journalists to overcome cultural barriers and encourage them to dare to correct the shortcomings of the society in which they live. Secondly, support must consist of giving media professionals the technical resources they need to do their work in the field and better reach their targets. What’s more, more effective tools will enable us to reach many more people, and thus do a better job.
Once equipped, what role could the media play?
First and foremost, the media need to revitalize their information strategy. The first weapon to use here is the creation of themed radio programs. To achieve this, the media can organize public broadcasts with experts in FGM issues to reach the population directly, demystify the taboo and bisect FGM practices. The media can also, at the same time, offer the population the chance to see for themselves, on the basis of testimonies gathered during surveys, the horrors of FGM. Finally, the media can act as a deterrent.
