Conclusion and recommendations
It has long been argued that religion is a powerful force within communities and is critical for engaging in many aspects of development programming. Religion was largely discounted in the 1980s and 1990s within development practices, but in the early 2000s, views on the importance of religion began to shift (Marshall 2021:13). Bilateral and multilateral donors and NGOs began to work on more ‘participatory’ models of development around this time, which included at least consultation with beneficiaries and, in some spaces, co-creation of development activities. In this growing participatory space, and with increased awareness and understanding of the importance of religion, the role of religious actors, and faith-based organisations, faith-based approaches began to gain credibility as a methodology in previously secular development spaces (ibid.:16).
Research on the bridge between the ‘sacred and the secular’ began to highlight religion’s role in decision-making and as a source of social authority (Ives et al. 2024:10). In Horcea-Milcu et al. (2023:5), the authors argue that when religion is approached as changeable rather than as a stable set of beliefs and values, participatory modes of engagement can be pursued that allow for deliberation and reflection on values.
In summary, this chapter concludes that there is a demonstrable connection between religious beliefs and FGM/C prevalence; similarly, there is a demonstrable correlation between religious beliefs and the belief that FGM/C should continue. These beliefs exist primarily within Muslim communities, and many of them are within the Shafi’i school of thought.
Public theology has the potential to influence the beliefs and practices of families and individuals through shifting public discourse, legal and policy influence, and local-level dialogue. However, secular NGOs engaging in dialogue with religious leaders on theological issues have had limited effect. Instead, organisations, activists, and policy makers working toward the abandonment of FGM/C must engage in dialogues from a religiously-informed perspective, recognising the nuanced variations between religious traditions. Within these dialogues, a non-judgmental and non-directive approach implemented over a long period of time can create an opportunity to reconsider religiously-informed social norms. It is critical that power dynamics and the influence of the different types of religious leaders within religious traditions are recognised and that these dynamics are engaged in a positive way to catalyse change. It is our position that utilising a transformative approach that engages deeply with religious beliefs and religious power structures, while also acknowledging the influence of other drivers of FGM/C, can have a lasting impact on the practice in communities where it is culturally embedded and falsely entwined with religion.