Concerted Efforts of FBOs to Abandon FGM & CEFM in Ethiopia: A Consolidated Report By Iftu TRC Email: [email protected] Addis Ababa May 2017 “The views and opinions expressed in this publication do not necessary reflect the views of UNICEF or that of the donor’s.” FBOs Addressing FGM & Child Marriage in Ethiopia Table of Contents Acronyms ...................................................................................................................................................... 4 List of Tables and Figures .............................................................................................................................. 6 Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 7 1. Introduction and Background Information ......................................................................................... 10 2. Literature Review................................................................................................................................ 11 2.1. Conceptual Understanding of FGM and CEFM .......................................................................... 11 2.2. Female Genital Mutilation and Early Marriage: Global Context ................................................. 12 2.3. Prevalence & Trends of FGM and CEFMin Ethiopia ................................................................... 13 2.4. Major Drivers of FGM and CEFMin Ethiopia .............................................................................. 16 2.5. Efforts Made to Abandon Harmful Practices in Ethiopia ............................................................ 19 2.6. Major Barriers to Abandon FGM and Child Marriage in Ethiopia .............................................. 22 3. Assessment Objectives and Methodology .......................................................................................... 24 4. Key Findings ........................................................................................................................................ 27 4.1. Profile of the FBOs ..................................................................................................................... 27 4.2. Rationale for Addressing FGM and Child Marriage .................................................................... 33 4.3. Strategies/Approaches Employed by FBOs to Abandon FGM & CEFM ..................................... 34 4.4. Interventions of FBOs ................................................................................................................. 37 4.4.1. Prevention of FGM and Child Marriage .............................................................................. 37 4.3.2. Protection for girls and women ................................................................................................ 49 4.3.3. Provision of support for girls and women ................................................................................ 50 4.5. Assets and Resources .................................................................................................................. 50 4.6. Challenges of FBOs faced while tackling FGM and child marriage ............................................. 51 4.7. Lessons FBOs Learnt .................................................................................................................... 53 5. Summary and Conclusions ...................................................................................................................... 55 6. Recommendations .................................................................................................................................. 59 Bibliography ................................................................................................................................................. 62 Annex 1: Comparison of median age at first marriage in 2005 & 2011 ................................................. 65 Annex 2: Effects of Female Genital Mutilation and Child Marriage ....................................................... 65 Annex 3: Position Statements on FGM and Child Marriage ................................................................... 66 Annex 4: Trainings conducted by EOC DICAC in 2013 and 2014 ............................................................ 69 Page 2 of 73 FBOs Addressing FGM & Child Marriage in Ethiopia Annex 5: List of awareness creation activities of DICAC 2013-2016 ....................................................... 69 Annex 6: ADRA Generic Report ............................................................................................................... 70 Annex 7: EOC-DICAC Development Bible Project Report ....................................................................... 71 Annex 8: The participants of the validation workshop held on May 2, 2017 ........... 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Page 3 of 73 FBOs Addressing FGM & Child Marriage in Ethiopia Acronyms ADRA Adventist Development and Relief Agency BCC Behavior change communications CEFM Child, Early and Forced Marriage CFR Council on Foreign Relations CSA Central Statistical Agency DEM Danish Evangelical Mission ECC Ethiopian Catholic Church ECFE Evangelical Churches Fellowship of Ethiopia ECS-SADCO Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat Social and Development Commission EECMY Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus EGST Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology EKHCDC Ethiopian Kale Heywet Church Development Commission EMDA Ethiopian Muslims Development Agency EOC Ethiopian Orthodox Church EOC-DICAC Ethiopian Orthodox Church Development and Inter-Church Aid Commission FBO Faith-based organizations FGM Female genital mutilation GBV Gender-based violence HTP Harmful traditional practice IEC Information and education communication IGA Income generating activity IRCE Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia KNH Kindernothilfe NBO North Branch Office NGOs Non-Governmental Organizations Page 4 of 73 FBOs Addressing FGM & Child Marriage in Ethiopia NO Branch Office SW South West UN United Nations UNFPA United Nations Population Fund WHO World Health Organization Page 5 of 73 FBOs Addressing FGM & Child Marriage in Ethiopia List of Tables and Figures Table 1: Regional trends of FGM: Source DHS2005 & 2016 ....................................................................... 14 Table 2: FGM prevalence in urban and rural areas..................................................................................... 14 Table 3: FGM prevalence by religion: ......................................................................................................... 15 Table 4: FGM prevalence by age groups ..................................................................................................... 15 Table 5: : Median age of Marriage in Ethiopia: source DHS 2011 .............................................................. 16 Table 6: FBOs covered by the assessment .................................................................................................. 25 Table 7: Title and No. of people interviewed per FBO ................................................................................ 26 Table 8: No. of people reached by consultation forums ............................................................................ 38 Table 9: No. of people reached by awareness creation workshops ........................................................... 39 Table 10: No. of people reached during mass religious services ................................................................ 41 Table 11: No. of people reached by print media ........................................................................................ 42 Table 12: No. of people reached by community conversations ................................................................. 43 Table 13: List of trainings provided by the FBOs ........................................................................................ 45 Table 14: List IEC materials prepared by the FBOs ..................................................................................... 49 Table 15: Total number of people addressed by FBOs 2010-2016 ............................................................. 57 Figure 1: Number of people addressed by awareness creation activities .................................................. 44 Page 6 of 73 FBOs Addressing FGM & Child Marriage in Ethiopia Executive Summary Ethiopia is a multi-ethnic, multilingual and multi-religious country located in the Horn of Africa with a total population of over 101.8 million, the second most populous country in Sub-Saharan Africa. Ethiopia is a home of diverse population groups. The country has a federal government system with nine regional states and two city administrations. According to the 2007 report of the Central Statistical Agency, the religious demography of the country was Ethiopian Orthodox 43.5%, Protestant 18.6%, Catholic 0.7%, Muslims 33.9% , and traditional religions and others 2.6%. Religions have a long history of co-existence over centuries in Ethiopia and have been playing an influential role in political history and in cascading behavior change among their respective congregations for centuries. Ethiopia has rich good traditions and cultures that give the citizens a sense of pride and source of tourist attraction. However, there are also harmful traditional practices affecting particularly the lives of children and women. The government has initiated various policies,