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December 8, 2003

GRANT TO HELP RAISE AWARENESS OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION IN QUEBEC

OTTAWA -- Femmes Africaines Horizon 2015 will receive $61,620 for an 8-month initiative to raise awareness, and to work toward the elimination of the practice of female genital mutilation in Quebec. Irwin Cotler M.P. (Mount Royal) announced the grant today on behalf of the Honourable Jean Augustine, Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women).

"It is a lack of understanding and an unwillingness to discuss the issue that is slowing the process toward eliminating female genital mutilation," said Mr. Cotler. "The incredible silence serves only to ensure that women who are subjected to these practices continue to suffer without their country's support. This initiative is ensuring that the issue is brought to society's attention and placed on the public agenda."

"Femmes Africaines Horizon 2015 is fighting to eliminate a practice that affects women in Quebec, in Canada, and throughout the world," said Secretary of State Augustine. "The global issue of female genital mutilation can not be divorced from its physical, psychological, social, and cultural consequences. This initiative will introduce an awareness and sensitivity towards the women directly affected by these practices."

The initiative, "Mobilizing the community for the prevention of the female genital mutilations in Quebec," involves a seven-day forum on female genital mutilation with seven target audiences, including Quebec women originally from Africa, female health care workers, female community stakeholders, and the public at large. One of the main goals of the initiative is to publicize the issue in order to raise awareness, to inform and to bring together the community in Quebec and, finally, to dispel the taboos surrounding these practices.

An action research will be started in order to paint a realistic portrait of the situation in Quebec, to better respond to the needs of women who have been subjected to female genital mutilation, and to prevent the mutilation of young women in Quebec or when they travel abroad.

Femmes Africaines Horizon 2015 is a network of African and Quebec women working for the full integration of African women in Quebec and Canadian society. The organization works with youth of African descent to help them develop a sense of belonging in Quebec society while maintaining pride in their African heritage. Their goal is to achieve the elimination of female genital mutilation by the year 2015.

Status of Women Canada is the federal government department working to promote gender equality and the full participation of all women in the economic, social, cultural and political life of Canada.

Funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 2003 budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.