THE OSLO ISLAMIC FATWA AGAINST FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION

Female genital mutilation has sometimes been speculated as being practiced by Muslims, Christians and other faith communities. Is this harmful traditional practice a religious entity or is it a form of violence against women and young girls that has to be brought to light?

VENUE: Clarion hotel, royal Christiania, bishop Gunnerius gt. 3, 0160 Oslo

9.00 - 9.30 Registration, Coffee & Tea

9.30- 9.45 Opening Remarks by her Excellency the Ambassador of South Africa to Norway Ms. Beryl Rose Sisulu

9.45 - 9.50 Introduction: Regina Adahada, President (PAWA)

9.50 - 10.35 Female Genital Mutilation perceived in a religious context and how to fight

against this practice in African societies. Example from the Gambia by

Imam Ibrahim Touray, from the Islamic Council in the Gambia.

10.35 - 11.20 The consequences of female genital mutilation on women and girls seen from a religious woman`s perspective in the Gambian society, Aja Maimuna Savage.

11.20 - 11.35 Short Break

11.35 - 13.00 The perspectives on FGM by two religious Leaders, fighting against this

harmful tradition in the Northern Parts of Nigeria and the struggles they undergo to actualize their goals, by Imam (Dr) Muhammad Nurayn Ashaf & Pastor (Dr) James Movel Wuye from the Interfaith Mediation Centre Kaduna, Nigeria,

13.00- 14.00 Lunch

14.00- 14. 10 A poem on the empowerment of women by a human right activist, Philo

Ikonya

14.10- 14.15 The presentation of her book, on the empowerment of the foreign

women living in the Norwegian society, Elizabeth Urassa

14.15 - 15.00 Looking at the consequences and the fight against female genital

Mutilation in the Scandinavian religious perspective. A case from Sweden

Imam Seddy Janneh from Sweden

15.00- 15.45 How a religious leader in the Norwegian society is working against

Female Genital Mutilation, Imam Sheik Mubarak Abu Jarda

15.45 - 15.50 Closing remarks and conclusion

Vice President of PAWA Benter Adiahmbo

Moderators: Amina Mahama & Christine Mungai

PAWA, Amathea, NKVTS, NAKMI and AYIN INVITES YOU ALL TO:

FGM AN UNAFRICAN TRADITION

NORWAY MOVES FROM DIALOGUE TO ACTION -

" ZERO TOLERANCE TO FGM"

We wish to celebrate the work against female genital mutilation on the UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on the 27 of November 2010 with a conference focusing on why female Genital Mutilation is not an African tradition.

Violence against women is a global problem, and takes place in all societies and cultures. Female Genital mutilation (FGM) is a severe form of violence against women that needs to be eliminated. We are five pioneer organizations, in the fight against FGM within the Norwegian Pan African community.

We need a new driving force to break the traditional cultural taboos and codes. The problem needs a new international perspective to give it a new momentum. Fighting against FGM is fighting for the rights of children to own their bodies; nobody has the legal or moral right to remove any part of another's body. Ending female genital mutilation is therefore a question of empathy and solidarity with women and more specifically with innocent children who suffer not only in Africa but globally for a meaningless practice.

The conference will focus on the global work against female genital mutilation and change the belief that it originated from Africa.

In view of this Pan African Womens Association (PAWA), Amathea, The Norwegian Center for Violence and Post Traumatic Stress Studies (NKVTS), The Norwegian Center for Minority Health Research (NAKMI) and Afrikan Youths in Norway (AYIN) hereby invite you to take a role in this work.

Black female Self recovery is an expression of a liberatory Political Practice.Choosing wellness is an act of political Resistance. Black women In Norway need to undergo a process of self- recovery that can heal individual and collective wounds that may prevent them from functioning fully.

Traditional therapy, mainstream psychoanalytical practice, often does not consider race as an important issue nor the barriers black women face in their perceptions of themselves and as a result do not adequately address the mental health dilemmas and needs of black women.

It is important that Black Women talk to one another and that we also talk to friends and allies for the telling of our stories enables us to name our suffering and to seek healing.

PAN AFRICAN WOMENS ASSOCIATION IN NORWAY THEREFORE INVITES YOU TO A SEMINAR

26^TH OF SEPTEMBER 2009

AT THE THON HOTEL OPERA OSLO

KL 11:00- kl 17:00

THE FINAL PROGRAMME WILL FOLLOW

FINANCED WITH THE AID OF EXTRA FUNDS FROM THE NORWEGIAN FOUNDATION FOR HEALTH AND REHABILITATION