Collaborative Approaches for Supporting Survivors of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C)
Led by Women’s Health in Women’s Hands Community Health Centre, this project engaged survivors of FGM/C, community leaders, service providers and the media to educate, sensitize and enhance supports for survivors and those at risk of FGM/C.
Project activities included engaging survivors through arts-based workshops to identify supports required for survivors of FGM/C in the Canadian context. Based on the learnings from these workshops, trauma-informed resources and training are being developed and delivered to better equip health and allied professionals to provide sensitive and appropriate care for survivors. Learnings from these workshops are being used in the development of resources for mainstream media to help reduce stigmatizing media coverage of FGM/C. The project established a network of ‘community champions’, comprised of women affected by FGM/C, people from affected communities, religious leaders and service providers, to help raise awareness of the health and other harms of FGM/C within their own networks and communities.
The project took place within the Greater Toronto Area with a focus on neighbourhoods which have the highest concentration of racialized communities greatly impacted by FGM/C. Community consultations and the dissemination of resources are taking place at both the provincial and national level, building on the partnerships and networks already established by Women’s Health in Women’s Hands Community Health Centre.
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