An indy journalist's Blog

International federating efforts (in chronological order)

please follow the full sequence of my archived Anti-FGM media and advocacy work on Twitter from 2009, by following me @dwalshmedia, first

as #GAFGM 2009 until 2014

and then onward as #AntiFGMGlobal 2014-2022

This list below is not exhaustive. Not all activities I have participated in are recorded below. These updates reflect my most cherished and salient memories! On twitter, more #EndFGM news internationally can be found. Please also check my homepage for updates.

#GAFGM hashtag evolved into #AntiFGMGlobal as of May 2014.

Posted July 28, 2022 Global Alliance against FGM announced via email to Mediageode (myself) that it ceased official activity in 2018. For posterity Mediageode c/o #AntiFGMGlobal maintained some of their archives and news points for interested readers given that their activity was based in Geneva and was linked to the UN HQ. The org successfully reached out to other anti-FGM foundations internationally, including @1globalwoman. It was was very unique in this way.

https://twitter.com/dwalshmedia/status/1552825748217466880?s=21&t=pKuK4SOrZZs5-DADT1Puvw

Posted June 14, 2022 Diane Walsh’s VO article as an Academic citation in Kenya

Posted December 30, 2021

Read Global Woman P.E.A.C.E Foundation annual report https://twitter.com/dwalshmedia/status/1476565549572190210?s=21&t=pKuK4SOrZZs5-DADT1Puvw
Donor

Ifrah Foundation – my GWPF Award nominee received award

Guillaume Roth academic thesis – mention of my work in Geneva with GAFGM in April 2011 – now available online to view

Posted February 28, 2021 PM Trudeau government supports #AntiFGMGlobal

Posted Dec 1, 2019 Mediageode Global Portal for a time-FGM resources

#EndFGM #NoFGM #myissuetoo #hearmetoo

http://wizathon.com/walk2endfgm/79977

Posted Aug 21, 2019 my Award 2016 http://globalwomanpeacefoundation.org/2019/08/27/announcing-our-2019-global-woman-award-recipients/

Posted Nov 20, 2018 Washington DC Oct 2018  with credit to @1globalwoman  http://globalwomanpeacefoundation.org/2018/10/30/a-mini-united-nations-convenes-in-washington-d-c/ Media Category Presenter October 26,2018

Posted July 19, 2018 https://www.wizathon.com/walk2endfgm/

2018 G.W.P.F. Nominees https://www.wizathon.com/walk2endfgm/?id=3136

#Walk2EndFGM from @1globalwoman: “What is the Walk to End FGM?” Join us October 26-27th as we walk in solidarity to #EndFGM at the National Mall in DC. Find out more at: http://www.globalwomanpeacefoundation.org/what-is-the-walk-to-end-fgm-walk2endfgm/ … ”

November 11, 2017 NPC gave a wonderful guided tour to Hillary Burrage, Arifa Nasim and myself  (the member) on Oct 20, 2017. Our tour was given by a DC journalist who said she also covered FGM in her journalistic work. As a result of this tour, we were able to raise awareness about @1GlobalWomen events.  This is a Copy of the Speaker/Request sent to NPC_ via the National Press Club’s website required ‘Format Form’ – sent on – July 6, 2016. September 13, 2017 shared here. Yet to be scheduled.

More info @Arifa_Nasim, @E2Eradicate #EndFGM #antiFGMGlobal #GAFGM @hilaryburrage

Please read https://hilaryburrage.com/2017/10/22/three-days-with-global-woman-p-e-a-c-e-foundation-washington-dc-october-2017/amp/ A helpful overview of the anti-FGM debates by Hilary Burrage

https://femalemutilationworldwide.com/2013/11/09/female-mutilation-chapter-7-north-america-diane-walsh/

Posted October 30, 2017

Washington DC National Mall Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation Walk against FGM G.W.P.F.Walk 2017

Posted November 30, 2016

National Press Club visit and article https://twitter.com/dwalshmedia/status/792590099603001345?s=21

Washington DC National Mall Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation Walk against FGM G.W.P.F. Walk 2016

Posted June 8, 2016

Lower Island writer Diane Walsh has been selected to receive a Certificate of Recognition 2016 for journalism/advocacy at the National Mall in Washington DC, on Oct 15, 2016 by G.W.P.F.

Posted April 5, 2016

An exclusive with Diane Walsh via G.W.P.F http://globalwomanpeacefoundation.org/an-exclusive-with-diane-walsh/

http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2016/6/ed-to-visit-canada

Click to access 10_7-13%20February%202011.pdf

UN Women mentions my Feb 2011 article (see above)

Posted March 20, 2015

Exhibited: Art Prints (legend)1. Abstract “Say ‘No!’ to FGM” and 2. Artistic Rendition of “The Horror of FGM”

Enfield, UK London, Standing up to FGM; University of Oxford Symposium Programme

At the University of Oxford, Contestations around FGM: Activism and the Academy via @UnCUTVOICES 

Posted February 5 2015

Feb 5, 6, 7 “CONFÉRENCE 18H00 AU MEG – MGF ET LES RITES SACRIFICIELS” Geneva Campus United Nations

GA-FGM Grand Conference 2015

“Dans le cadre de la Commémoration de la Journée Internationale de Tolérance Zéro aux Mutilations génitales féminines (MGF) célébrée chaque 6 février, l’Alliance Globale contre les Mutilations génitales féminines (AG-MGF) une initiative canado-allemande basée à Genève, organise des évènement les 5 et 7 février au Musée Ethnographique de Genève, activités placées sous le patronage de la Commission suisse pour l’UNESCO”.

Posted December 30, 2014

GAFGM Provisional Conference Programme Feb 5- Feb 7 #GAFGM #IDRS on twitter, planned for February 6, 2015 – Zero Tolerance Day/FGM at the United Nations, Geneva, UN Campus including supporting UNESCO letter of support

November 16, 2014

November 8, 2016

Pictures of the Nov 8 Walk in Washington

Video of an FGM activist who read her poetry at the Speaker-Presentations after the Walk.

Reflections on the momentous event – We are the ones who can’t be ignored

Global Woman P.E.A.CE Foundation Washington DC Walk  Nov 8 2014

October 5 2014

Published online as of today.

A most comprehensive study on #GAFGM and #FGM by Guillaume Roth

mémoireM2 – Guilaume’s thesis on FGM-Copy for Diane Walsh. Written in French.

Translation available if anyone needs it. Contact on twitter @dwalshmedia

Special thanks: I was incredibly honoured to be listed/included as a mention (page 16).

Mr. Roth is an outstanding research and communication specialist. Contact details available, if requested.

September 20, 2014

My 2010  article which appeared in Vancouver Observer

is now used a source. Referenced in a NIH study on FGM here: 

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4064295/

This is the URL to the complete study.

March 18, 2014

Trailer of Mali concert and Africa meeting GA-FGM, post-symposium

March 13, 2014

Article on #GAFGM/AGMGF(Fr.) in the French publication, le Dauphiné Libéré, regarding Conference  3.3.2014 at Cercle Condorcet de Ferne-Voltaire.

March 4, 2014

Canadian artists at the UN say, “No to FGM” The Source/LaSource, March 4 2014

#GAFGM @dwalshmedia:

Video of Elisabeth Wilson opening remarks at #GAFGM exhibition Feb 6 2014 Geneva, UN campus

March 3, 2014

Synopsis of the Symposium (Fr.) Rapport symposium AG-MGF du 07 Fevrier 2014 Summary of the speaker’s remarks (available as of March 3,2014).

Feb 6 – Feb 7, 2014

Feb 6 – The Exhibition African and Native Canadian  Art Feb 2014 project has been accepted by the United Nations Cultural Affairs Committee in Geneva, Switzerland. I am covering this event as a UN accredited journalist

Feb 7 – Invitation, provisional programme, and details: I am attending as a Participant.  Letter (Fr.) Remerciements Symposium AG-MGF received subsequently, March 3.

Invitation Symposium Chaire MGF_ 7 Février 2014

Symposium 7 fevrier 2014

Programme 7 fev 2014_ Salerno

September 2013

Coop Média de Montréal, Menacée, attaquée, critiquée – Josée Gavi, fondatrice de l’ONG AMEVI-TOGO lutte sans relâche contre les MGF, le 17 Septembre, 2013

December 12, 2013

Global Alliance Against FGM fund-raiser GA-FGM Press Release – Halfmoon Woman Canada_Dec 2013 – Indigenous Canadian Woman & Birch Bark Biting Master presents, in Geneva, Dec 12th and 13th, UN Campus in support of GAFGM.

May 16, 2013

I was honoured when I spotted the other day, I am mentioned on Adobe page 16 – text page 14, in the annual general report of the Global Alliance against FGM. This is an excellent document if you would like to learn more about this ground-breaking organization: GA-FGM AGM.

Please take the time to learn more about the GA-FGM initiative, wholly supported by the UN community and the Inter-African Association (see below posts for more information).

May 14, 2013

“Monsieur Holger Postulart (please note in English, Exec Director of GAFGM, Global Alliance Against FGM) va annoncer le projet de créer une Chaire universitaire spécialisée sur les MGF à cette conférence (voir communiqué de presse).  L’Agence de coopération internationale allemande va être le premier donateur. l’AG-MGF (GAFGM) est en partie canadienne.”

Note to reader, be sure and follow my twitter news feed #FGM @dwalshmedia for up-to-date information on FGM

UN Special Magazine February 2013 – my article, “Change the fate of girls: it’s in our hands”

https://indydianewalsh.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/un-special-article-by-diane-walsh-foreign-correspondent-fpa-london.pdf

February 5, 2013

press release from NPWJ: High Level Meeting in Rome: Final Declaration calls for full and complete implementation of the UN Resolution Banning FGM Worldwide. Speaking with Global Alliance Against FGM in attendence, “Rome. Conférence sur les MGF. No Peace Without Justice. J’y suis en tant que fondatrice de l’Alliance globale contre les MGF A mes côtés, Madame Compaoré, Première dame du Burkina Faso (centre) et Ambassadrice du Comité Inter-africain sur les pratiques traditionnelles néfastes à la santé de la Femme, Madame Lamizana, Présidente du CI-AF et la Ministre de la promotion de la femme du Burkina Faso, Madame Nestorine Sangaré (gauche)” – Elisabeth Wilson (second from left side). Pic: Hon. Emma Bonimo, Italian Senate & NPWJ

December 20, 2012

No Peace Without Justice  based in New York City but working diligently with activists around the globe gives this press release on the UN resolution against Female Genital Mutilation, which passed December 20, 2012. The actual text of the UN resolution can be accessed here:  Resolution UNGA English and Rėsolution UNGA French

No Peace Without Justice, the Ban FGM campaign, the Inter-African Committee, Euro-net, the first lady of Burkina Faso  Hon Mrs Chantal Compaoré, and many others, have helped make this groundbreaking historical event, a reality – which includes the public awareness work of organizations such as Global Alliance Against FGM, the Orchid Project, the Aha Foundation, just to name a few. It takes a village! A global united village to make this happen.

From left to right: Represented here, No Peace Without Justice, Inter-African Committee, Burkina Faso chapter, IAC Ethiopia chapter, Global Alliance Against FGM (this picture was taken in New York City at NPWJ headquarters on September 23, 2010 during the United Nations Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) where much pressure was placed to put forward a resolution. It would not have happened without great activists.  Hon Emma Bonino, former MP in the European parliament and current member of the Italian Senate, was then (and still is) a tremendous political weight behind the Ban FGM campaign.

December 3, 2012

Global Alliance Against Female Genital Mutilation, presents a

Concert in Geneva, Switzerland December 3rd, 2012 (its press release in French)Communiqué Res ONU_Canada_2012, at United Nations Campus, Ecumenical centre – 1800 h UT  with Event information here: Programme 3 decembre 2012_final_Fran, celebrating the recent UN resolution against FGM and advances in awareness of the subject over the last year since the last concert in Versonnex, France.

http://fgcdailynews.blogspot.com/ an excellent source for those wishing to follow media pieces on FGM. My article on FGM in VO featured.

April 2011

My trip to the UN Geneva Campus

http://www.sott.net/articles/show/228451-Global-Alliance-Against-Female-Genital-Mutilation-Greatly-Needed

and to view post-event coverage on the Global Alliance Against Female Genital Mutilation, go: here

February 6, 2011

Say “No!” to Female Genital Mutilation

International Day on Zero Tolerance

Female Genital Mutilation is a heinous crime still perpetrated against girls.  On February 6 2011 throughout the day, the entire world community is being asked to chant together a resounding “No!” in unison with all activists against female genital mutilation. As this is the date marking the 8^th International Day on Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation, collectively, we can honour the global concerted efforts which rarely get the media attention, but which represent, both practical and existential struggles, against FGM tradition practice [as it is labelled for short].

Being that the 6^th of February falls on a Sunday, the UN-sponsored meeting and backed by the World Health Organization will take place in Geneva on Monday 9 am Feb 7 at “Le Centre International de Conférences” (CICG).  It has been a long-time wait, from many activists’ point of view, but it is encouraging news as the proud two-pronged theme for 2011 has finally emerged: “Building Bridges between Europe and Africa”—emphasis on—“engaging media” and “engaging governments”, which is, but an indispensable factor to being able to reach zero tolerance to FGM.  The Inter-African Committee is scheduled to take the floor at Monday’s Geneva meeting, issuing this statement, in advance, from IAC Addis Ababa, Ethiopia:

“The objective of celebrating February 6 is to call International, Regional, National and Community attention to the efforts needed to free women and girls from the adverse tradition of female genital mutilation and to accelerate action towards its total elimination”

“Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a violation of basic human rights principles, as stipulated in Article 24.3 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), other International and Regional instruments, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights Relating to the Rights of Women in Africa, (Article 5) and the African Union Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa, 2004.”

The main actors on the anti-FGM front have traditionally been The Inter-African Committee, UNFPA, The UN Refugee Agency and UNICEF—and so—it makes sense it is these organizations/‘branches’ of the UN that have been designated hosts for the meeting.  There is formal media scheduled to be represented as well, including, Afromedianet. Equally, European Network-FGM will speak in a session.

This signals to the whole world that concrete genuine steps are being taken to solidify the resources for anti-FGM initiative, within, government.

For far too long FGM has been pushed under the carpet. That’s been the sentiment of many activists who have struggled to raise awareness over more than 40 years.  Things are different now. For the first time in history chief world actors alongside the prominent activists have agreed to band together.  It goes without saying; the work of all anti-FGM organizations has been emboldened by the enthusiasm of Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon stating unequivocally a UN-commitment to gender equality in September 2010 in New York.

Coupled with that—we’ve seen the emergence of—UN Women on the scene, with its new website out in January 2011. Of course the impressive former President of Chile Michelle Bachelet which SG Ban Ki-moon himself appointed at the helm [Executive Director/Under-Secretary General of UN Women] allows for a different climate to flourish. This year’s International Day is significant in that the overall strategy is being upped in part as a result of distinctly UN-Women driving in the shoulder and putting weight behind the anti-FGM cause.

The formidable contribution of The AHA Foundation; No Peace without Justice, Ban FGM and FGM NETWORK are obvious central keys as well to the current and overall political fervour galvanizing support behind ending the practice around the world.

Furthermore, TOSTAN out of Senegal; The Orchid Project [Davos winner] with on-going endorsement from Nick Kristof of the NYT; and The Waris Dirie Foundation are core developing partnerships with the same common goal of eradication.  Equally UNICEF  operates in tandem with the mandate of Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices, whose personnel then work with several NGOs on the ground in Africa e.g. New Vision and Reach. By no means is this above list exhaustive.

Moreover, the commitment to eradicate FGM is exemplified by current initiatives taken place at a high-governmental level, both, nationally and internationally.  These include: a global Appeal  to Ban FGM worldwide underscoring efforts to bring forth an actual UN Resolution into the UN General Assembly at some point in the near future.  This would seek a ban on the practice of female genital mutilation world-wide and would carry the weight of international law against torture behind it and along with it the lofty goal to make the very UN Resolution— ultimately—the 9^th— of the 8 Millennium Goals.

There is reason to have hope.

A draft-copy resolution is in the works— spearheaded by—the Inter-African Committee, a giant, in the anti-FGM movement.  As currently endorsed by UN headquarters in Geneva, Donor Working Group and Global Alliance against FGM a German-Canadian group now operational out of Geneva, we’re seeing several federating efforts.  Using knowledge-sharing, a Global Portal  is being developed with the aim to centralize all FGM-based resources, in addition to providing a vehicle for monitoring situations on the ground and immediate media-outreach. Thereby being a one-stop click able to view all resources pooled around FGM in one website and with ability to add to it—and therefore as a result—mobilization and communications strategies between Europe, Africa [and the Middle East in due course] can be ever enhancing; allowing for new partnerships, evolving every day, to be posted.

There is neither danger— nor contradiction— in the varying approaches to eradicating FGM which include legal and political and cultural. These can include but are not limited to strategies helping communities with unlearning harmful-to-girl cultural theory methodologies; sensitization and education; alternative employment measures for excisors—many different ways to fight FGM—but always complementary. There are reports of successful law enforcement and arrest of exisors—making the criminalization of FGM an accepted paradigm by and large and an integral part of an overall sensitization strategy.  In Geneva, next week, Ambassadors from Burkina Faso, Egypt, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Kenya, Ethiopia will be heard speaking at session.   Those African delegations to the UN who opposed this movement going forward to take these greater steps [becoming clear] at the UN September 2010 New York conference have been successfully marginalized in part on account of the tremendous unification of mobilization efforts agreed upon by the aforementioned plethora of organizations working on the front-line. Importantly 2011 is a synchronization of strategies between Europe and Africa. It is only through world-wide awareness of the on-going existence of FGM that true eradication can begin to take place.

“If you know something, get in touch.  It only takes a tweet or email or a FB post to get involved. Know that excisors practising FGM  – or those condoning/ lending credence to/ -supporting babies, little girls or womens’ genitals being sliced in societies of fear, coercion and confusion are under a watchful eye. The future can and will be better. If you see FGM happening, speak out.  Don’t be a witness and do nothing”.

Lastly: during the Zero Tolerance Day, please take the time to watch these two videos, which includes work and presentation by Ban FGM Campaign.   Share with friends.

‪Messages for UN Women – in pictures https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/gallery/2011/mar/02/women?CMP=share_btn_tw&page=with:img-22#img-22‬

‪https://www.flickr.com/photos/guardianonflickr/5476975350‬

‪https://www.flickr.com/photos/guardianonflickr/5476975426‬

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKdTIx_-_I8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApRkNqm6UFE&feature=related

Please note, Twitter hash-tag is: #FGM, #NOTOFGM,  #STOPFGM #Feb6

* For more of my articles on this subject, please google “Diane Walsh and FGM” on google search and/or go my *all publications* tab on this site and scroll down

September 29, 2010

My trip to the UN http://www.vancouverobserver.com/politics/commentary/2010/09/29/un-hones-female-genital-mutilation

Vancouver Observer – articles

Sept 23, 2010 pics: In my board editorial capacity, was pleased to facilitate with Lower Island News credential and we were enormously proud to both have UN accreditation at New York campus for the purpose of covering the MDGs.