The Ministry of Health and Population, in cooperation with UNFPA, the National Committee for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and the Egyptian Medical Syndicate, launched activities under the slogan "White Coat Against FGM" on December 11, strengthening efforts to eliminate the harmful practice.

The "White Coat Against FGM" events will be held from December 11 to 20, 2024, and include a series of five conferences bringing together 750 doctors to raise their awareness of the harms of FGM and its negative impact on girls' health, in addition to the role of medical professionals in changing the social and cultural norms associated with this harmful practice.

The conferences come within the framework of the National Project for Human Development "Bedaya." 

In the opening ceremony, a recorded speech was delivered by Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development and Minister of Health and Population, who stressed the importance of these conferences as part of sustainable development in Egypt. He added that FGM is a physical, psychological and social crime that harms girls, stressing that the conference aims to shed light on the role of doctors in confronting it, especially in light of the medicalization of the harmful practice. 

Dr. Abdel Ghaffar also presented the government’s efforts to tighten penalties on those who commit this crime, and raise public awareness of its dangers.

The opening ceremony brought together Dr. Sahar El-Sonbaty, Head of the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, Counselor Amal Ammar, Head of the National Council for Women, Dr. Khaled Amin, Assistant Secretary-General of the Medical Syndicate, and Ms. Germaine Haddad, Assistant Representative and Program Manager at UNFPA.

Dr. Sahar El-Sonbaty highlighted the importance of protecting children's rights and the role of society in ending violence against girls, noting the role of the Child Protection Hotline 16000 in receiving complaints and offering protection.

Counselor Amal Ammar also stressed the need to empower women and girls to ensure a safe environment that enables them to grow and achieve their ambitions, reviewing the efforts of the National Committee to Eliminate FGM over the past years.

Dr. Khaled Amin highlighted the vital role of doctors in spreading awareness and promoting sound health practices.

On her part, Ms. Germaine Haddad stressed that female circumcision is not just a harmful health practice, but rather a profound cultural and social challenge that requires courage and determination to change. She stressed the importance of the role of doctors as leaders of change in their communities.

The conferences include a number of sessions and workshops that address the harms of FGM and the medical and legal issues associated with this harmful practice, along with the role of medical personnel in changing social and cultural norms. The conferences also include interactive and theatre performances presented by young volunteers in an innovative way to highlight the impact of FGM.

Dr. Amr Hassan, Advisor to the Minister of Health and Population for Population and Family Development Affairs and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, spoke in a session on professional ethics and called on his fellow doctors not to submit to the desire of fathers or mothers to perform FGM, due to its short- and long-term impact on girls and women.

According to the Egyptian Family Health Survey (EFHS) 2021, 86 percent of Egyptian married women between the ages of 15 and 49 have undergone FGM, 74 percent of whom by doctors.