Category: 070516

An Exclusive will return in late July and the month of August.  Join us then, when we bring you another fascinating person.

A week ago today, the U.S. Department of Justice co-sponsored a roundtable discussion with the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) of the U.S. Justice Department.  Meeting at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Baltimore, Maryland, the roundtable discussion was on the “hush-hush” topic of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C).

The U.S. Department of Justice has held several of such roundtable discussions in various cities in the United States.  On February 8^th this year, they collaborated with the U.S. Department of Education in a roundtable discussion with representatives from various school districts.  The purpose of co-hosting these discussions is to mobilize the message of awareness that FGM/C in the United States is real and is against the law.  Furthermore, representatives from government agencies and non-profit organizations have the opportunity to network and share information.

Opening the discussion and addressing the packed room was Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division of the Human Rights & Special Prosecutions Section, Kathleen O’Connor.  She reminded the attendees of the number of FGM/C reported and recorded cases in the United States to date.  Deputy Chief O’Connor spoke of legal consequences of practicing FGM/C in the U.S.  In addition, Susan Masling, Attorney at the Justice Department spoke about the correlation of practicing FGM/C on U.S. soil and abroad.

The crowd learned that there have been 4000 new cases of female genital mutilation/cutting in the United Kingdom.  Although FGM/C has been unlawful since 1998, there are still some states in the U.S. where it is not banned on state level.  However there are state laws in Illinois, Georgia and other states which carry a ten-year imprisonment term.  There have been two federal cases in the state of California.

Among the many attendees were representatives from the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, Baltimore County Public Schools, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Maryland Department of Human Resources, Equality Now, Georgetown University Global Health Initiatives, IAC-USA, Tahirih Justice Center, Montgomery County Crisis Center, Child Abuse Office of Baltimore, Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation, to name only a few.

The Department of Justice wants the public to know that it is not the fault of a girl or woman who has undergone FGM/C.  She has not violated any U.S. laws by undergoing the procedure against her will.  If you know of anyone who is at risk of FGM/C or who has experienced it here in the U.S., please contact 1-800-994-9662.  Know that FGM/C is a form of child abuse in the United States.

    

This is an article taken from Health It Central, with the source from the British Journal Healthcare Computing. 

An app has been designed to allow health professionals and their patients to discuss the issue of female genital mutilation (FGM).

Joanne McEwan, a public health nurse at the Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust (OHNFT) said: “Good communication and an understanding of the cultural and language differences are critical factors for health professionals if they are to win the trust of their clients and patients.”

An app to facilitate talks about FGM between clinicians, nurses and the people they serve is currently being tested across Oxfordshire.

The project to test the app is being led by Joanne McEwan, a public health nurse at the Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust (OHNFT).

FGM affects about 137,000 girls and women in the UK, although the figures are yet to be confirmed.

McEwan said: “Good communication and an understanding of the cultural and language differences are critical factors for health professionals if they are to win the trust of their clients and patients.

“FGM is a very sensitive subject, and a health professional can find it difficult to open up a discussion in case they alienate their client.”

Due to these difficulties, McEwan initiated the development of the Let’s Talk FGM app at OHNFT. The iPad app is currently being tested by 400 of the Trust’s health professionals and community workers across the county.

Health professionals use the app in their sessions, to enquire sensitively about FGM, identify girls and women at risk of cutting and point FGM survivors in the right direction towards care and support.

McEwan gained funding for the project via the Mary Seacole Leadership Award, which values outstanding work in the black and minority ethnic community in the U.K.

She then worked with Oxford Against Cutting, a local campaign group, as well as Oxford Health and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trusts, to put together the details for the app.

The app’s content includes key information in five different languages about the impact of FGM, why it happens, the law and how to keep children safe, as well as providing local support for survivors.

It also includes video interviews with FGM survivors, campaigners and health professionals.

McEwan added: “This resource will give health professionals the information they need, and therefore build their confidence, to clearly explain the issues around FGM in the client’s cultural context.

“It is designed essentially as a client-led communication tool which does not contain any client/patient data. My aim is that it will remove uncertainties, providing practical and current guidance for both clients and professionals.”

We have received inquiries about how one may register to participate in the Walk to End FGM.  Here are step by step instructions on how to register.  Visit www.globalwomanpeacefoundtion.org, scroll down and click on the  button and follow the instructions.  The Walk page is simple to navigate.  Here are other ways in which you may get involved:

• Register as an individual participant
• Form a team and invite others to join your team and help raise funds
• Join a team that is already formed
• Register as a virtual participant and help raise funds (if you are unable to attend)
• Sponsor a team or an individual participant or sponsor the event
• Be a Partner Organization with Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation in the Walk to End FGM
• Register as a volunteer

 

To volunteer, contact us at info@globalwomanpeacefoundation.org or call 703-818-3787.  Register at www.globalwomanpeacefoundation.org and Walk to End FGM.  Click on the link below to see some highlights of our 2015 Walk to End FGM.

http://www.truthrevolt.org/news/fbis-new-mission-combat-female-genital-mutilation

Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.  As such, your donations and registration fees are tax deductible to the maximum extent required by law.

45 Degrees Project stages their 3^rd annual summer performance in both Chicago and Washington, D.C. this August.  Directed by Elana Anderson, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater presents “45 Degrees Project” on August 7^th through 13^th in Chicago and on August 15^th through the 21^st Joy of Motion Dance Center presents “45 Degrees Project” on its stage in Washington, D.C. at 1333 H Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20002.  For tickets and additional information visit: www.joyofmotion.org.

Vacation without Excision (Vacances San Excision)!  The second annual Vacances San Excision will be held Friday, August 12^th and Saturday, August 13^th.  Imagine 2 full days of teaching the children (boys and girls) about the enjoyment and safety of vacation.  The first of its kind in the U.S., Inter-Africa Committee (IAC-USA) launched its Vacances San Excision (Vacation without Excision) in August of 2015.  They had great success and decided to make the event an annual one.  Held at 20021 Aircraft Drive, Germantown, Maryland 20874, this camp is expected to provide boys, girls and parents with the knowledge they need for a safe vacation, free of mutilation/cutting (Vacances San Excision).  The camp is free of charge with lunch and refreshments.  Register as many children as you have.  Join us on both days or choose one of the 2 days.

If you need overnight accommodations for the Walk to End FGM…The official hotel of the Walk to End FGM is the Double Tree by Hilton, Crystal City at 300 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22202.  A special negotiated rate is available when you register for the Walk.  The deadline for making your hotel room reservation is September 14, 2016.    If you call to book your hotel reservations, make sure to ask for the FGM 2016 Walk Room Block rate.  If you book online, make sure you click on this link https://resweb.passkey.com/Resweb.do?mode=welcome_gi_new&groupID=64653351to make your room reservations.

Volunteers Needed:  Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation is in search of volunteers for their 3^rd annual Walk to End FGM in the nation’s capital on Saturday, October 15, 2016.  Volunteers’ responsibilities are: Arrive early, set-up, on-site registration, T-shirt and bag distribution, oversee donations, supervision of the tents, coordinate pre-walk ceremony, seat speakers and guests, coordinate photo-ops and pre-walk interviews.  All volunteers will have free registration for the walk.  A special registration code will be provided once you have been approved as a volunteer.  If you are interested in being a volunteer for the Walk to End FGM send an email to info@globalwomanpeacefoundation.org  and put in the subject line, “Volunteer”.

Save the Date: Saturday, October 15, 2016.  Plan to join us for the Walk to End FGM 2016.  We will release the list of our speakers later this month.  Registration is now available at www.globalwomanpeacefoundation.org.  Call 703.818.3787 or email info@globalwomanpeacefoundation.org for additional information and volunteer opportunities.  Follow us on Twitter @1Globalwoman and “like” us on FaceBook www.facebook.com/globalwomanpeacefoundation.

Female Mutilation authored by Hilary Burrage has been released in the US and Canada.  The author attended the Inter-African Committee conference on FGM last week in Geneva, where she presented her book Female Mutilation to the crowd.  The book is currently on sale at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.  Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation highly recommends Female Mutilation for high school students and anyone who wants to learn more about the practice of FGM/C.  To read the author’s blog about the Inter-African Committee Geneva conference, visit here https://hilaryburrage.com/2016/05/12/un-geneva-my-book-launch-at-the-iac-conference-on-fgm/ and to purchase a copy of the book, visit  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/female-mutilation-hilary-burrage/1123329211?ean=9781742576077

The guidelines to submit an announcement are to appear in this newsletter:

• The length of announcement must be no more than a paragraph of 6 lines.
• Your announcement should be something that pertains to women, girls or students, such as events, walk-a-thons, conferences, etc.
• If there is an accompanying image, it must be no less than 72 dpi, preferably in jpeg.
• Your announcement must be received no later than the Thursday 5:00pm prior to the following Tuesday publication.
• Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation reserves the right to deny a submission if it is not within our guidelines.

Do you enjoy playing with words?  This is a fun way to see how well you can unscramble the following words.  We will reveal the unscrambled words in next week’s edition of the newsletter.  If you enjoyed this, write and give us your feedback to info@globalwomanpeacefoundation.org.

Can you unscramble the following five words?

This Week’s Scrambled Words

MITMUS

TINGEEM

MOREBALTI

GFM WORKNET (2 WORDS)

TABLEROUND

 

Last Week’s Scrambled Words                               Last Week’s Unscrambled Words

BERIALI                                                                               LIBERIA

CAPEES                                                                                ESCAPE

LAGEVIL                                                                              VILLAGE

ANDES SHUB                                                                     SANDE BUSH

RMS. MABOA                                                                     MRS. OBAMA

We give you five scrambled words each week.  We hope you enjoy playing.

Here are some of the ways you can help and support our programs in 2016:

• 
• Donations (including in-kind donations) globalwomanpeacefoundation.org
• Partnering (collaborating in one of our programs and/or events)
• Joining our Internship or Student-Ambassadorship Program
• Volunteering
• Donate through employer payroll deduction (through Your Cause, United Way or the government employee giving program)
• Sign our Petition

We are located at 3920 Alton Place, NW, Washington, D.C. 20016.  The hours of operation by appointments only are Wednesday and Saturday 10:00am until 12:30pm.  All appointments and information are held confidential.

Important Contacts in the Washington, D.C. Metro Area to Keep Handy

Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation               703-818-3787

National Child Abuse Hotline                              800-422-4453

Fairfax County Office for Women                       703-324-5730

Virginia Crime Victim Assistance                        888-887-3418

Montgomery County Abused Persons Program   240-777-4673 (24 hours)

Prince Georges County Sexual Assault                301-618-3154

Prince Georges County Child Advocacy Center  301-909-2089

Baltimore City Child Abuse Center                     410-396-6147

Frederick County Child Advocacy Center           301-600-1758

Howard County Listening Place                          410-313-2630

Washington County Child Advocacy Center       240-420-4308

District of Columbia Metropolitan Police             202-727-9099

Alexandria Victim/Witness Program                    703-746-4100

Arlington County Victim/Witness Program         703-228-7273

Loudon County Victim Witness Program             703-777-0417

Prince William County Victim/Witness                703-392-7083

Attention: The U.S. government opposes FGM/C, no matter the type, degree, or severity, and no matter what the motivation for performing it. The U.S. government considers FGM/C to be a serious human rights abuse, gender-based violence, and, when done to children, a form of child abuse. It is against the law to perform FGM/C in the United States on a girl under the age of 18 or to send or attempt to send her outside the United States so FGM/C can be performed. People who violate this law can face prison time and significant immigration consequences. Additionally, anyone who performs FGM/C on a woman 18 years old or older without her consent may be charged with a crime under other laws.  If someone performed FGM/C on you, you have not violated any U.S. laws and are not at fault, call 1-800-994-9662.