DOCSLIB.ORG

Breast Ironing…

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Breast Ironing… “BREAST IRONING” A form of mutilation that is not talked about CAME WOMEN AND GIRLS DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION (CAWOGIDO) THANK YOU ROSA CAME Women and Girls Development Organisation (CAWOGIDO) • CAWOGIDO is a leading charity in this area and have produced some helpful information and guidance regarding the issues. They are working with the associated communities in this country to end the practice. WHAT IS BREAST IRONING? • Breast ironing is a painful form of body mutilation. • This involves pounding and/or massaging the developing breasts of young girls with hot objects to stop its development or to make them disappear. • This is very similar to FGM in that the body is directly mutilated. BREAST FLATTENING is similar to Breast Ironing. Breast Ironing Unfortunately, it is as bad as it sounds Why the name? Breast Ironing… A form of mutilation that is not talked about • These abuses are intolerable, • Support is needed to speak out about them, • The human rights of women and girls affected by breast ironing need defending • Need to identify ways of educating communities around breast ironing • Discussions needed on an effective campaign to change the tradition of breast ironing Reasons for breast ironing • To remove the signs of sexuality • Breasts should not attract boys • Prevent sexual violence • Girls should not engage in early sex and become pregnant • Girls should not drop out of school Breast ironing is not well recognised: • It is a traditional / emerging violent practice upon young girls, prescribed by social norms, and embedded in culture. • As female genital mutilation, child marriage and forced marriage are practices that often come before the Committees, are well studied and have been gradually reduced with certain legislative and programmatic approaches in place, BREAST IRONING: …. A harmful traditional practice that has not been recognized. “If society has been silent about it up to now, it is because; like other harmful practices done to women such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), it is thought to be good for the girl…even the victims themselves thought it is good for them.” GTZ 2010 research Breast ironing campaign • Breast ironing has been identified by the UN as one of the five most under-reported crimes relating to gender-based violence. http://www.unefpa. (Assessed 26,August 2011 • The practice of breast ironing will remain hidden unless we speak out about it and encourage affected communities to talk. WHERE IT IS PRACTICED • BI been reported across West and Central Africa, in Cameroon, in Benin, Chad, Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea-Conakry, Kenya, Togo, Nigeria and Zimbabwe. • In South Africa, a similar practice is known as “breast sweeping”. IS IT HAPPENING IN THE UK? • Breast Ironing has been found in Birmingham and London. • However, because of the hidden nature, it is hard to ascertain the extent of its prevalence in the UK • Breast Ironing occurs in the privacy of homes, it’s hard to see who is doing it, and people are not willing to talk about it. • It’s similar to FGM: you know it’s happening but you are not going to see it VICTIMS OF BREAST IRONING HOW IT HAPPEN • The most widely used implement for breast ironing is a wooden pestle • Heated Bandage • Other tools used coconut shells, stones, ladles, • Other heated objects. Facts about BREAST IRONING • The UN says that 3.8 million West / Central African girls are at risk of a painful form of body mutilation know as 'breast ironing'. http://www.unefpa. Assessed 26, August 2011 • In Cameroon , 50% of adolescent girls in cities and a quarter of all girls nationwide have their breasts 'ironed,' often by their mothers. • The US State Department has included breast ironing in its annual reports on violation of human rights abroad. http://www.washingtonpost.com HOUSE OF COMMON DEBATE • Karen Bradley, The Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State for the Home Department , 22nd March 2016 ; • “I want to make it absolutely clear that breast ironing is not just an abhorrent practice; it is illegal. It is child abuse, and no political or cultural sensitivities should ever be used as an excuse for us to stop tackling it.” THE LAW • There is no specific law within the UK around Breast Ironing, however it is a form of physical abuse and if professionals are concerned a child may be at risk of or suffering significant harm they must refer to their Local Safeguarding Children’s Board Procedures. • Local authorities should review their internal Violence against Women and Girls strategy and ensure it reflects breast ironing as a form of gender based violence. INDICATORS • Some indicators that a girl has undergone breast ironing are as follows: • Unusual behaviour after an absence from school or college including depression, anxiety, aggression, withdrawn etc; • Reluctance in undergoing normal medical examinations; • Some girls may ask for help, but may not be explicit about the problem due to embarrassment or fear; • Fear of changing for physical activities due to scars showing or bandages being visible. • Breast ironing exposes girls to health consequences: • Pain • Scalding • Abscesses, itching, • Infection, cysts, • Breast infections, tissue damage • Difficulties with breastfeeding • Complete disappearance of one or both breasts. • Concerns that this could contribute towards breast cancer, • Psychological effects Consequences of Breast Ironing Photo by sodahead.com OUR EXPECTATIONS • A Knowledge, Behaviour, Attitude and Practices (KBAP) study to determine the prevalence of breast ironing the UK. • Increase the ability of services to recognise breast ironing as a safeguarding issue in UK • Increase knowledge and understanding of the physical and psychological health implications, • Involvement of multidisciplinary teams...... • Resources to our project SUPPORT NEEDED To: • Recognise the issues • Develop strategies to change social norms to value girls and women, • Provide an enabling environment that safeguards girls and women’s health and rights. AS PROFESSIONALS • BI is not explicitly considered currently under legislation in the UK, practitioners need to be aware of this practice. • Breast ironing is physical abuse. • Therefore professionals who are aware that a child has been affected by or is at risk of breast ironing must act in the best interest of protecting the child/young person and follow local safeguarding procedures. Research A sample survey by GTZ Cameroon in 2006, • Survey of 5000 girls and women aged 10 to 82, • estimated that 4 million women had suffered the process. • it important to carry out a larger, multicenter studies to determine the real prevalence, the socio economics and cultural determinants, and to evaluate the health and psychological issues. Volunteers to Cameroon • To assist the grassroots effort that is already on the ground there …Our focal point • Sex educators to train mothers on a new approach to adolescent girls and sexuality; • campaign in Cameroon to discourage the widespread practice of breast ironing and to educate mothers instead that sex education — not breast ironing — is the solution to ending reducing sexual violence • to teach girls about how to avoid unwanted advances; to say NO…and how to avoid pregnancy. (These topics are currently not taught to adolescent girls.) PICTURES VICTIMS OF BREAST IRONING Some members of CAWOGIDO THANK YOU USEFUL WEBSITES • http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/CEDAW/Ha rmfulPractices/GenderEmpowermentandDevelopment • http://www.9jabook.com/profiles/blogs/breast-ironing- in-camerounto?xg_source=activity, accessed 24th August 2011 • http://www.cameroon-today.com/breast- ironing.html#ixzz1Vy2Qobyk • www.cawogido.co.uk • Ndonko F and Germaine N. Study on Breast Modeling in Cameroon. Yaounde: GTZ/RENATA 2006; pp 1- 36 • http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp- dyn/content/article/2010/03/04/AR2010030404489.htm l OUR CONTACTS Came Women and Girls Development Organisation Greenford Business Center, ICG House, Station Approach, Old Field Lane North, Middlesex, London UB6 0AL Tel: 020 8422 3621 / 07931873801 Email:[email protected] Web:www.cawogido.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/CameWomenAndGirlsD evelopmentOrganisation QUESTIONS or COMMENTS?.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • MLT Honour Based Violence Policy
    # MLT Honour Based Violence Policy Date Last Reviewed: November 2017 Reviewed by: Executive Principal (Primary) Approved by: Trust Board Next Review Due: November 2018 Maltby Learning Trust INTRODUCTION This policy provides information about practices related to Honour Based Abuse which are used to control behaviours within families to protect perceived cultural and religious beliefs and/or honour. It sets out the approaches to be taken within the Maltby Learning Trust to minimize the risk to children and young people within our Academies. Victims of Honour Based Abuse are predominantly female; the practices empower males to control female autonomy, sexuality and sexual behaviour. However, there can be instances when young males are victims. Honour Based Abuse is often committed with a degree of approval and/or collusion from family and/or community members. Crimes may take place across national and international boundaries, within extended families and communities, and cut across cultures, communities and faith groups. Honour Based Abuse often takes place in countries across Africa, the Middle East and East Asia but is also evident in the immigrant populations of Europe, America and Australia. Honour Based Abuse is used as an umbrella term for a number of practices including most commonly: Honour Based Violence/Killing Forced marriage Female Genital Mutilation Breast Ironing Honour Based Abuse is perpetrated against children and young people for a number of reasons. These include: Protecting family ‘honour’ or ‘Izzat’ Controlling
    [Show full text]
  • Challenging Global Gender Violence Susan D
    Available online at www.sciencedirect.com Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 82 ( 2013 ) 61 – 65 World Conference on Psychology and Sociology 2012 Challenging Global Gender Violence Susan D. Rose a * a Department of Sociology, Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa, 17013 U.S.A. Abstract Violence against women and children is a global human rights and public health issue. Gender violence - including rape, intimate partner violence, domestic violence, mutilation, sexual trafficking, dowry death, honor killings, incest, breast ironing is part of a global pattern of violence against women, a pattern supported by educational, economic, and employment discrimination. Intimate partner, family, and sexual violence is a major cause of death and disability for women aged 16-44 years of age worldwide. The most common rationale given for the denial of human rights to women is the preservation of family and culture. While gender violence is a significant cause of female morbidity and mortality, and has long been recognized as a human rights issue that has serious implications for public health and an obstacle for economic development, it persists. Drawing upon cross-national survey data and interviews with women participating in the Global Clothesline Project, this paper discusses the prevalence and patterns of gender violence across the developing and developed world, highlighting the voices of victim-survivors and the strategies that are empowering women and challenging gender violence in Cameroon, the Netherlands, and the United States. © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and peer review under the responsibility of Prof. Dr. Kobus Maree, University of Pretoria, South Africa. Selection and peer review under the responsibility of Prof.
    [Show full text]
  • Violence Against Women As a Human Right Issue
    Commission on the Status of Women 57th session Oral statement VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AS A HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. Submitted by the International Alliance of Women, Equal Rights – Equal Responsibilities, an international non-governmental umbrella organization of women’s associations and individual members in general consultative status with ECOSOC. Despite Art 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, women all over the globe are living in an insecure, dangerous world. And this only for being women. Is humankind slaughtering Eve? And what is the role of the United Nations under these circumstances? Firstly, what are we talking about when we say slaughtering Eve? We talk about gender-based murder, rape, sexual slavery, trafficking, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, enforced sterilization, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, so-called honour crimes, boy preference, neglect and infanticide of females, breast ironing and many more Yes, indeed, humankind is slaughtering Eve, at a horrible scale! Only one example: According to estimates by the United Nations, up to 200 million women and girls were demographically missing in 2005. Given the biological norm of 100 new-born girls to every 103 new-born boy, millions more women should be living amongst us. If they are not, if they are “missing”, then they have been killed; they have died through neglect and mistreatment1. Secondly, the role of the United Nations is indispensible in advocating respect for the human rights of the individual, woman or man, girl or boy. To name only the most important documents: 65 years ago, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by 48 votes to none, with 8 abstentions; 20 years ago, 171 Member States adopted by consensus the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action of the World Conference on Human Rights.
    [Show full text]
  • Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women Convention on the Rights of the Child
    United Nations CEDAW/C/GC/31/Rev.1–CRC/C/GC/18/Rev.1 Convention on the Elimination Distr.: General 8 May 2019 of All Forms of Discrimination against Women Original: English Convention on the Rights of the Child Committee on the Elimination of Committee on the Rights of the Child Discrimination against Women Joint general recommendation No. 31 of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women/general comment No. 18 of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (2019) on harmful practices* * The joint general recommendation/general comment on harmful practices was initially adopted in 2014. It was subsequently revised by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women at its seventy-second session and by the Committee on the Rights of the Child at its eightieth session. GE.19-07611(E) CEDAW/C/GC/31/Rev.1–CRC/C/GC/18/Rev.1 Contents Page I. Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 3 II. Objective and scope of the joint general recommendation/general comment ............................... 3 III. Rationale for the joint general recommendation/general comment ............................................... 3 IV. Normative content of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child ........................... 4 V. Criteria for determining harmful practices ...................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Girls' Rights Are Human Rights
    GIRLS’ RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS ActionGIRLS’ for RIGHTS ARE HUMANGirls RIGHTS Newsletter of the Working Group on Girls (WGG) and its International Network for Girls (INFG). WGG Prepares Recommendations for CSW 57 to CSW56 Reflect Rural Girls’ Needs girls through the adoption of policies and strategies that ensure GirlsAction Tribunal Is Special Feature of CSW for 57 equalWGG access Membership Girlsto education, Produces physical and Advocacy mental health care, Newsletter of the Working Group on Girls (WGG) and its International Network for Girls (INFG). o improve the employmentSheets for opportunities; CSW 57 and economic resources, including WGGgirls’ tribunal Advocates on for Girls Withconditions Differing the Abilitiesright to inheritance and to ownership of land and other violence. of rural girls, property,To promote credit, its natural goal resourcesof focusing and primarily appropriate on technologies. actions to Bearing Witness to Girls’ Activism he Working Group 3. INTENSIFY EFFORTS TO REDUCE POVERTY 57th UN Commission on the WGG urges all stakeholders prevent violence against girls, the members of the Working Status of Women T “Break the barriers Tonwhich Girls segregate has people organized with disabilities an to: ANDThe ECONOMICWorking Group INEQUALITY: on Girls Inc.The feminization of Tuesday, March 5th forcing them to the margins of society.” Group on Girls have met in regular discussion about some 2:00 PM event, “Girls Tribunal on povertyA historic requires moment: investing On August sufficient 30, 2011 resources ‘Working for gender equality Salvation Army Auditorium of the issues of violence against girls singled out in the 221 E. 52nd Street - Chin, Director General, World Health Organization, Group on Girls of the NGO Committee on UNICEF’ 1.Violence: PROMOTE Bearing A HUMAN Witness and the empowerment of girls, taking into account the diversity Join us as we hear the testimony of Report on Disabilities, 2011 UNtook Expert a new identity Group and meeting became in‘The Bangkok.
    [Show full text]
  • Economic and Social Council Distr.: General 17 November 2015
    United Nations E/CN.6/2016/NGO/59 Economic and Social Council Distr.: General 17 November 2015 Original: English Commission on the Status of Women Sixtieth session 14-24 March 2016 Follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and to the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled “Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century” Statement submitted by Girls Learn International, a non-governmental organization in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council* The Secretary-General has received the following statement, which is being circulated in accordance with paragraphs 36 and 37 of Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31. * The present statement is issued without formal editing. 15-21009 (E) 141215 *1521009* E/CN.6/2016/NGO/59 Statement The Working Group on Girls is a coalition of over 75 national and international non-governmental organizations with representation at the United Nations dedicated to promoting the human rights of girls in all areas and stages of life, advancing their status and inclusion, and recognizing and developing their full potential and capabilities as partners in action. At this, the sixtieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women, we welcome the priority theme “Women’s empowerment and its link to sustainable development”, and the review theme “The elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls”. We nevertheless also note the importance of including girls in the priority theme, as girls experience empowerment differently from women. Similarly, the realization of sustainable development impacts girls in unique ways.
    [Show full text]
  • Compendium of United Nations Standards and Norms in Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice
    CRIME PREVENTION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE CRIME PREVENTION AND NORMS IN STANDARDS COMPENDIUM OF UNITED NATIONS Compendium of United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice UNITED NATIONS OFFICE ON DRUGS AND CRIME Vienna Compendium of United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice UNITED NATIONS New York, 2016 Contents Page Introduction ................................................... xi Part one. Persons in custody, non-custodial sanctions and restorative justice I. Treatment of prisoners ........................................ 3 1. United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules) (General Assembly resolution 70/175, annex, of 17 December 2015) ..................................... 3 2. Procedures for the effective implementation of the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Economic and Social Council resolution 1984/47, annex, of 25 May 1984) .......................................... 35 3. Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment (General Assembly resolution 43/173, annex, of 9 December 1988) ...................................... 41 4. Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners (General Assembly resolution 45/111, annex, of 14 December 1990) ..................................... 50 5. Kampala Declaration on Prison Conditions in Africa (Economic and Social Council resolution 1997/36, annex, of 21 July 1997) .......................................... 51 6.
    [Show full text]
  • Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
    COI QUERY Country of Origin/Topic Cameroon Question(s) Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), including: - Most common forms of SGBV: sexual violence, domestic violence, trafficking, traditional harmful practices - Legal framework (national legislation and international instruments) and implementation - State actors of protection - Social perception and non-state actors of protection Date of completion 5 June 2019 Query Code Q11 Contributing EU+ COI units (if applicable) Disclaimer This response to a COI query has been elaborated according to the Common EU Guidelines for Processing COI and EASO COI Report Methodology. The information provided in this response has been researched, evaluated and processed with utmost care within a limited time frame. All sources used are referenced. A quality review has been performed in line with the above mentioned methodology. This document does not claim to be exhaustive neither conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to international protection. If a certain event, person or organisation is not mentioned in the report, this does not mean that the event has not taken place or that the person or organisation does not exist. Terminology used should not be regarded as indicative of a particular legal position. The information in the response does not necessarily reflect the opinion of EASO and makes no political statement whatsoever. The target audience is caseworkers, COI researchers, policy makers, and decision making authorities. The answer was finalised on the 5 June 2019. Any event taking place after this date is not included in this answer. 1 COI QUERY RESPONSE 1. Preliminary remarks: general security and humanitarian situation in Cameroon As of 2019, the humanitarian situation in Cameroon is described as increasingly fragile.1 The country is experiencing three distinct humanitarian and protection crisis, which are affecting eight out of ten regions in the country.
    [Show full text]
  • Gender Equality Strategy 2018–2021 Unfpa Gender Equality Strategy 2018–2021
    UNFPA GENDER EQUALITY STRATEGY 2018–2021 UNFPA GENDER EQUALITY STRATEGY 2018–2021 © UNFPA August 2019 Cover photo: ©Karlien Truyens/UNFPA CONTENTS 1. Introduction . 5 Approach and structure of the Strategy 6 UNFPA’s mandate and global commitments 7 UNFPA’s comparative advantages to achieve gender equality 8 Achievements and challenges 10 2. Objectives, Priorities, Outcomes and Outputs . 12 Objectives 12 Priorities 12 Outcomes and outputs 13 OUTCOME 3 . 13 Gender equality, the empowerment of all women and girls and reproductive rights are advanced in development and humanitarian settings Outputs that support Outcome 3 . 13 • Output 9: Strengthened policy, legal and accountability frameworks to advance gender equality and empower women and girls to exercise their reproductive rights and to be protected from violence and harmful practices 13 • Output 10: Strengthened civil society and community mobilization to eliminate discriminatory gender and sociocultural norms affecting women and girls 14 • Output 11: Increased multisectoral capacity to prevent and address gender-based violence using a continuum approach in all contexts, with a focus on advocacy, data, health and health systems, psychosocial support and coordination 14 • Output 12: Strengthened response to eliminate harmful practices, including child, early and forced marriage, female genital mutilation and son preference 16 Other key areas of gender work: Strengthened capacities on developing gender responsive data, gender statistics, evidenced-based advocacy/dialogues and gender mainstreaming to enable women and adolescent girls to realize their sexual and reproductive health and rights 16 Mainstreaming gender in policy and programme 17 OUTCOME 1 . 17 Every woman, adolescent and youth everywhere, especially those furthest behind, has utilized integrated sexual and reproductive health services and exercised reproductive rights, free of coercion, discrimination and violence 2 = Outputs that support Outcome 1 .
    [Show full text]
  • Harmful Practices Against Children in Plural Legal Systems with a Special Focus on Africa
    Addressing harmful practices against children in plural legal systems with a special focus on Africa Protecting children from harmful practices in plural legal systems The Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children is an independent global advocate in favour of the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against http://srsg.violenceagainstchildren.org children, mobilizing action and political support to achieve http://facebook.com/msantospaispage progress the world over. The mandate of the SRSG is anchored in http://twitter/srsgvac the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other international http://youtube.com/srsgvac human rights instruments and framed by the UN Study on Violence against Children. New York 2012 Protecting children from harmful practices in plural legal systems with a special emphasis on Africa New York 2012 i ii CONTENTS Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................... 3 Acronyms ...................................................................................................... 4 Foreword ...................................................................................................... 5 1. Setting the scene ...................................................................................................... 7 Violence against children, harmful practices and law reform ................................ 9 2. International human right standards to protect children from harmful practices ........
    [Show full text]
  • Experience with Social Support Systems Among Women Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence in Cameroon Ahone Esther-Alice Ngujede Walden University
    Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2016 Experience with Social Support Systems Among Women Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence in Cameroon Ahone Esther-Alice Ngujede Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Public Health Education and Promotion Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Health Sciences This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Ahone Ngujede has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Amany Refaat, Committee Chairperson, Public Health Faculty Dr. Jeanne Connors, Committee Member, Public Health Faculty Dr. Earla White, University Reviewer, Public Health Faculty Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D. Walden University 2016 Abstract Experience with Social Support Systems Among Women Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence in Cameroon by Ahone Esther-Alice Ngujede MA, Grambling State University, 2008 BS, University of Buea, 2005 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Health Walden University May 2016 Abstract The southwest and northwest regions of Cameroon have experienced high rates of intimate partner violence (IPV). Limited information is available about IPV victims’ experiences with social support systems.
    [Show full text]
  • Strengthening Protection from Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
    Strengthening protection from Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) A Scottish Government consultation October 2018 Contents MINISTERIAL FOREWORD .............................................................................................................. 3 Part 1: THE CONSULTATION ........................................................................................................... 5 Why we consult ............................................................................................................................... 5 Deadline .......................................................................................................................................... 5 How to Respond .............................................................................................................................. 5 Respond Online ............................................................................................................................... 5 Other Ways to Respond .................................................................................................................. 5 Next Steps ....................................................................................................................................... 6 Complaints ...................................................................................................................................... 6 Part 2: INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 7 Part 3: BACKGROUND
    [Show full text]