The National Council for Women, in collaboration with the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, launched the “Guidelines to Combat the Medicalization of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).”
The initiative was launched in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Population, the Egyptian Medical Syndicate, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the Egypt Foundation for Health and Sustainable Development. It aims to strengthen the role of medical professionals and healthcare providers in combating this harmful practice and protecting girls from its health and psychological risks.
The launch event was attended by prominent medical and executive figures, including Dr. Abla El-Alfy, Deputy Minister of Health and Population; Dr. Osama Abdel-Hay, President of the Egyptian Medical Syndicate; Dr. Essam El-Adawy, member of the National Council for Women; Dr. Amr Hassan, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and founder of the Egypt Foundation for Health and Sustainable Development; and Ms. Germaine Haddad, Acting Representative of the United Nations Population Fund in Egypt. The launch coincided with the celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child on October 11, reflecting a renewed commitment to empowering girls and providing a safe environment that safeguards their dignity and physical and psychological well-being.
Dr. Sahar El-Sonbaty, President of the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, explained that preliminary findings from the 2025 Egyptian Family Health Survey revealed the continued prevalence of the medicalization of FGM, with a large proportion of cases performed by doctors and approximately 13% by nurses. This indicates that many cases continue to take place within the healthcare system. These figures were a key driver behind issuing the guidelines to prevent families from being given a “false sense of legitimacy” regarding this crime.
The President of the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood stressed that no medical justification or social custom outweighs a girl’s right to safety and dignity. She emphasized that doctors must serve as the first line of defense in protecting girls, rather than contributing to practices that endanger their lives. She added that the guidelines represent an investment in building professional awareness and equipping doctors in relevant specialties, including obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, family medicine, and emergency medicine, with the skills needed to communicate with families and firmly reject the practice. She also highlighted the importance of the Child Helpline (16000) as a national channel for receiving reports and providing support.
Dr. Abla El-Alfy, Deputy Minister of Health and Population for Population Affairs, Primary Healthcare, and Family Development, expressed her appreciation to all entities and individuals who contributed to supporting and issuing the guidelines. She emphasized that FGM leaves severe psychological and social consequences for girls and may disrupt their lives during adolescence, in addition to negatively affecting marital relationships and contributing to higher divorce rates. She also pointed to ongoing efforts in the House of Representatives to increase penalties associated with this crime.
She added that the guidelines outline the role of counseling providers in raising awareness of the dangers of FGM and warning against its medicalization. She stressed the need to intensify the efforts of all officials and professionals working on this issue, cooperate in reporting any cases of FGM, and reinforce a clear message within society: there is no such thing as “medical FGM,” and the practice cannot be justified or considered a healthcare procedure.
In his remarks, Dr. Essam El-Adawy emphasized that preparing these guidelines represents an important model of effective institutional coordination, bringing together the efforts of state institutions, international organizations, and civil society, while combining expertise toward the shared goal of protecting girls and eliminating FGM.
He stressed that the true value of this effort extends beyond producing a specialized scientific guide. It also requires its adoption and teaching in medical schools and the integration of its principles into medical practice. This makes training doctors and strengthening their professional and ethical responsibilities an urgent necessity. He added that institutional coordination is not merely about unifying efforts, but also about transforming combined expertise into tangible and sustainable results that bring about meaningful change in protecting girls and safeguarding their rights.
Dr. Amr Hassan noted that the guidelines were the outcome of an intensive series of workshops aimed at harmonizing medical information and concepts into a comprehensive reference for medical students and healthcare professionals. He expressed hope that the prevalence of the practice would continue to decline until Egypt achieves “zero FGM.”
For her part, Germaine Haddad, Acting Representative of the United Nations Population Fund in Egypt, said that the medicalization of FGM stems from the misconception that having the harmful procedure performed by medical professionals reduces its risks. She explained that doctors are therefore a key focus of efforts, working in partnership with scientists, UN agencies, and government institutions to strip the practice of its perceived legitimacy, as it constitutes a violation of public health and human rights.
Dr. Osama Abdel-Hay, President of the Egyptian Medical Syndicate, expressed his pride in hosting the launch at the syndicate’s headquarters, highlighting its long history of opposing all forms of violence against women’s bodies. He also emphasized the importance of coordinating with religious leaders to correct misconceptions associated with the practice.
The event concluded with remarks by Dr. Rehab El-Fakharany, Secretary-General of the Egypt Foundation for Health and Sustainable Development, who stressed the importance of continuing coordination and cooperation among all partners. Following her remarks, Dr. El-Fakharany honored Dr. Sahar El-Sonbaty, President of the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, along with the partners and speakers who participated in the event, in recognition of their roles and contributions to efforts to combat FGM and strengthen institutional and community cooperation in promoting sound medical practices and building a safer and healthier environment for girls.
🖋️ Source: Al_ahram Portal
