A pneumonia of unknown cause was announced on December 31, 2019; on January 30, 2020, a Public Health Emergency of International Concern was declared; on February 11, the WHO named the new coronavirus disease COVID-19, and on March 11 a pandemic was declared. Very significant preventative measures were put in place to prevent the rapid spread of the virus.
Included in these measures was the closure of schools globally, which resulted, and will continue to result, in an increased exposure of human rights abuse, including female genital mutilation (FGM), early marriage and sexual violence. UNFPA said in a recent technical note “Due to pandemic related disruptions in prevention programmes, 2 million FGM cases could occur over the next decade that would otherwise have been averted.”
Various reliable sources have indicated that COVID-19 will undermine efforts to end gender-based violence as a result of the disruption of social services and care, resulting in an increase in the incidence of domestic and gender-based violence.
The World Economic Forum said in a recent article that FGM is taking a “crippling” economic toll on many countries. It is estimated that 200 million girls and women worldwide have undergone FGM, resulting in an array of short- and long-term health issues. The World Health Organization estimates that it costs approximately $1.4 billion a year to treat the health effects. The organization 28 TOO MANY, however, stated that the cost is much more than the estimated $1.4 billion a year when taking into consideration the impact on the other Sustainable Development Goal areas.
As with most crises, this pandemic has severely disrupted access to life-saving sexual and reproductive health services and hampered authorities’ ability to respond to gender-based violence, at a time when women and girls need these services most.
Dr Natalia Kanem, executive director of UNFPA
The risks associated with COVID-19 include:
- A closure of schools which will result in an extended cutting season, making girls at home more vulnerable to undergoing FGM.
- The impact of social distancing which will result in a restriction of the mobility of girls, increasing their social isolation and an increased possibility of cutting gone underground and unnoticed.
- An interruption in the work that’s being done by non-governmental organizations and campaigners.
- Postponement of community-based activities (education / awareness raising activities), including Alternate Rites of Passage.
- Limited law enforcement.
- Closure of businesses and markets and financial difficulties, forcing parents to marry off their daughters.
- A reduction in funding generated and received.
- The potential that re-educated cutters might return to cutting.
What is the situation at Hope for Girls and Women Tanzania?
- Safe Houses:
- There was one confirmed case of COVID-19 close to the Serengeti Safe House, a friend of a staff member.
- The Safe Houses function with a reduced number of staff.
- The two Safe Houses can accommodate 50 girls each, but currently accommodate 177 girls.
- All new arrivals go through a 2-week quarantine period.
- Community:
- There is more emphasis on COVID-19 awareness in the communities, including the importance of social distancing and hand washing.
- Legal:
- There are 5 ongoing FGM prosecutions.
- One man was sentenced to 30 years for raping a girl, with the 16 year old victim now being accommodated at the Mugumu Safe House.
- Education and training:
- There has been no notice to date as to the resumption of the school year.
- The girls included in the vocational training group continue to make masks for use in the Safe House and to sell to the community.
- Teaching English conversation, via video conferencing, is continuing with a group of British teachers.
- Digital Champions
- Mapping of the area is continuing; the role of the digital champions is even more important than before; they not only map the area, but often act as the eyes and ears of Hope on the ground to provide information about potential risk factors and situations in the villages.
In conclusion, the saying “Stay home, stay safe” doesn’t apply to girls at risk of FGM.
Sources:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_XF436QWMg
- https://www.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/resource-pdf/COVID-19_impact_brief_for_UNFPA_24_April_2020_1.pdf
- https://www.unicef.org/media/68786/file/External-Tehnical-Note-on-COVID-19-and-FGM.pdf
- https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/jun/01/many-girls-have-been-cut-how-coronavirus-global-school-closures-left-children-at-risk?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/18/fgm-risk-in-somalia-heightened-by-coronavirus-crisis?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
- Eventbrite webinar #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86rbDlQXQgE
- Eventbrite Webinar #2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZHkFb7LS18