“ 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 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 • 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, and 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 , 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 , 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 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 • 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?