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UNFPA PERSPECTIVES ON CULTURAL SENSITIVE APPROACHES. By Miriam Jato Senior Program Adviser, UNFPA Africa Division. Panel Discussion on Cultural Sensitive Approaches for Sustainable Abandonment of FGM/C Global Consultation on Female Genital Mutilation/Female Genital Cutting ,
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UNFPA PERSPECTIVES ON CULTURAL SENSITIVE APPROACHES By Miriam Jato Senior Program Adviser, UNFPA Africa Division Panel Discussion on Cultural Sensitive Approaches for Sustainable Abandonment of FGM/C Global Consultation on Female Genital Mutilation/Female Genital Cutting, United Nations Conference Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 30 July-3 August, 2007
DISCUSSION POINTS • Key principles that guide UNFPA’s work • Elements of UNFPA cultural sensitive approaches • Norms for promoting cultural sensitive programming culture in UNFPA • “Culture lens” programming tool • Lessons learned • Conclusion
KEY PRINCIPLES THAT GUIDE THE WORK OF UNFPA • UNFPA is mandated to address cultural issues • Culture is dynamic, interactive and subject to change • CS services enhance acceptance and ownership of services • CSA create enabling environment for promoting human rights • It is critical to build staff capacity
ELEMENTS OF UNFPA CS APPROACHES • Understanding the cultural contexts • Promoting human rights in ways that enable communities to own them • Creating positive environment for dialogue with stakeholders • Being patient • Respecting the cultures of others • Honoring commitments
NORMS FOR PROMOTING CS PROGRAMMING CULTURE IN UNFPA • Changing harmful cultural attitudes & behaviors & promoting positive ones • Mainstreaming systematically CSAs into programming processes • Understanding and working within the cultural dynamics in each society • Working with local power structures and religious institutions
ADDING THE “CULTURE LENS”TO UNFPA PROGRAMMING TOOLS • Means to enhanced strong community acceptance and ownership • Analytical and programming tool • Used to understand contexts and realities • Used to identify influential power structures
LESSONS LEARNED • Communities can be encouraged to incorporate recognized human rights into their own realities • Identify people who have the capacity and legitimacy to motivate and mobilize • Gain the support of local change agents and power structures before engaging with communities • Effective negotiation requires an understanding of the interests of diverse stakeholders
CONCLUSION • CSA as a means to promote program acceptance and ownership • CSA create bridges between local cultural values, human rights and gender equity • Capacity building of staff and partners for effective CS programming remains one of UNFPA’s key contribution