Interviwers name: Jana

Interviewee: Professor Nora

Date: March 21, 2023
Topic: Professor Nora discusses FGM and how effective/ineffective the laws are to end the
procedure in Egypt.

Jana [00:00:01] Hi, this is Jana. Can you please introduce yourself?

Prof. Nora [00:00:04] My name is Nora. I'm a professor of pediatrics at New giza
University.

Jana [00:00:09] Okay. What is your understanding of FGM?

Prof. Nora [00:00:13] This is female genital mutilation, otherwise known as female
circumcision, which is a removal of part of the external genitalia of little girls because it's
done in early childhood.

Jana [00:00:29] Okay. How do you think FGM affects the physical and psychological
health of girls and women?

Prof. Nora [00:00:35] It produces permanent physical scarring and pain and lifetime, as
well as the psychological problems. It's also a very memorable day, extremely painful and
very confusing for young girls in which they see their family celebrating. They're in terrible
pain.

Jana [00:01:07] So in your opinion, why do some families and communities continue to
practice FGM?

Prof. Nora [00:01:12] This is a very old cultural habit which also occurs in the rest of
Africa, so we're not different from them. So, it's rooted in culture, but also it is believed that
it's also a religious duty.

Jana [00:01:30] So according to the United Nations Population Fund, there are 86% of
Egyptian women who have undergone FGM. Why do you think Egypt has such a high rate
of FGM procedures?

Prof. Nora [00:01:41] Well, yes, I thought it was a high rate. I thought it was over 90%.
And as I said, we're a very traditional society that doesn't like to get rid of traditions. And
it's also because it's they believe it's a religious duty. And also, socially, the families
believe that their daughters, when they grow up and get married, then they may be
rejected by their spouses as being unclean or of loose morals.

Jana [00:02:18] There was a law that was established declaring a maximum of two years
of prison to anyone involved in FGM, meaning nurses and doctors. However, no one has
been convicted according to this. Why do you think so?

Prof. Nora [00:02:29] Um, I. I thought that also included parents. I thought that some
fathers were included as well. Anyone who brings a child, this would be difficult to
implement as the fathers are usually the breadwinners. As for doctors and nurses, I
suppose there are cover ups.
Jana [00:02:56] So and then later on in 2021, there was another law that was established
increasing the the sentence between 10 to 15 years in prison. Do you think this is effective
to decrease FGM procedures?

Prof. Nora [00:03:08] Well, I think it's very, very deeply rooted in our culture. But the threat
of prison sentence clearly is not making a difference.

Jana [00:03:20] So do you think the Egyptian government has done enough to prevent
FGM from happening?

Prof. Nora [00:03:25] Well, I think that we need any serious education programs to
change the culture. And changing culture is very difficult.

Jana [00:03:34] So you think education and awareness can play a role in ending FGM in
Egypt?

Prof. Nora [00:03:39] I think it'll take a long time, but we have to start somewhere and
education has to be on all levels in schools and going out into the villages and on the radio
and on television. It's going to be a long road in.

Jana [00:03:56] A Do you know of any interventions or programs occurring right now to
prevent them from happening?

Prof. Nora [00:04:03] No, I'm not. I know that in Africa there are women acting from
outside African women who move to the West who are trying to change this in their
countries. I'm not aware of programs in Egypt now.

Jana [00:04:20] So if you would decide on a possible solution to decrease the amount of
FGM procedures in Egypt, what would it be?

Prof. Nora [00:04:27] Going out into the villages and and in the cities, it's also taking place
in the cities as well.

Jana [00:04:34] So you'll basically try to raise more awareness to the people in the rural
areas.

Prof. Nora [00:04:39] That's right. Yes. But I would also use religious clerics as well. They
would have to be an observer on the the Coptic Church and all the various churches in
Egypt. The religious clerics would have to come out and condemn it.

Jana [00:04:53] Okay. Thank you so much.