DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, November 27, 2015/APO (African Press Organization)/ —
Tanzanian charity Children’s Dignity Forum (CDF) and UK based charity the Foundation for Women’s Health, Research and Development (FORWARD) is launching an animated short film on the issue of female genital mutilation (FGM) today, Wednesday 18th November at The British High Commissioner’s Residence, Dar es Salaam. The event is kindly supported by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), Tanzania.
The True Story of Ghati and Rhobi, is an inspirational story about two girls (Ghati and Rhobi) resisting their community’s practice of FGM. They show courage by saying no to a practice that they heard would be painful and that some girls die from. With the help of community elders, they change the way their community treats a girl’s transition into womanhood by ending the practice.
Both a Swahili and English version of the film have been developed for use in Tanzania and other Swahili speaking East African countries. The short animated film is designed to convey to the viewer the power of individuals to be proactive in combatting harmful practices such as FGM and it offers hope that FGM will end in Tanzania. The film was developed by FORWARD and Animage Films in partnership with CDF.
In attendance and speaking at the launch will be: the host Ms Dianna Melrose, The British High Commissioner, Mary Rusimbi, Executive Director, Women’s Fund Tanzania, Jane Miller OBE, Human Investment Team Leader, DFID, Naana Otoo-Oyortey MBE-Executive Director, FORWARD and Koshuma Mtengeti- Executive Director, CDF.
To accompany the launch of the film and to assist in its effective distribution and use for social awareness campaigns a facilitators guide has also been developed. The guide is intended to help facilitators (young women, teachers, police and anyone who wishes to show the film to their groups or networks or in their work place) to lead a discussion on FGM following the screening of the film. The film on DVD along with the guide are available on request from CDF.
FGM is an entrenched harmful practice that has affected more than 130 million girls and women globally. In Tanzania around 15% of all women aged between 15 and 49 will have undergone FGM. FGM is illegal in Tanzania and is punishable for between 5-15 years in prison for those carrying out the practice.
When the film will be available: The True Story of Ghati and Rhobi will be available online on Thursday 19th November on the CDF and FORWARD websites: cdftz and forwarduk from 9.30am GMT.
The following links are EMBARGOED until Thursday 19th November 9.30am GMT.
