In a ground-breaking initiative, the Ministry of Social Action, Family, and Promotion of Women, in collaboration with UNFPA leading the UN, and civil society partners, organised a traveling caravan under the 16 days of activism against Gender-Based Violence to shed light and tackle harmful practices affecting women and girls.

31st January, Bissau - "The theatre piece on forced marriage touched my soul because I am victim of this harmful practice. I speak with my mother every single day about my marriage with an older man who is now my husband, but she always says these are our ways, our traditions. I'm really happy with this caravan," confided a young woman in Quinhamel, Biombo region, echoing the sentiment that reverberated through the heart of Guinea-Bissau during a recent nationwide campaign, in the West African country.

The caravan kicked off from 25th November, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, until the 10th December, Human Rights Day, performing at traditional markets, commonly known in Guinea-Bissau as "Lumos", which play a crucial role in bringing together diverse audiences.

Three impactful plays addressing Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), early/forced marriage for girls, and promoting modern family planning methods were showcased by 25 skilled actors from the renowned "Ballet Nacional Nossa Patria Amada." as a way to spread messages of awareness for social and behavioural change.

“The aim of this initiative is to create a meaningful dialogue instead of limiting ourselves to one-way communication” said Marliatu Djalo, President of the National Committee against harmful practices in Guinea-Bissau. The innovative concept was initiated by UNFPA and falls under the framework of the government national development plan aimed at improving human rights in the country.

The methodology of the awareness-raising caravan is rooted in creating a meaningful connection between artists and the audience. Meticulously scripted and rehearsed, the 30 to 45-minute plays incorporated a mix of theatre, dance, and music. Crucially, each play concluded with an interaction session, fostering active discussions with the general public about the shared information.

The caravan made a profound impact on audience members. After watching the plays, Delina Amelia Mendes in Bula, a resident of Cacheu region, said “Female Genital Mutilation has a lot of harmful consequences for women and girls, including during pregnancy or delivery. It may result in the death of a newborn or even the mother.”

Changing social norms through culture

More than 500 people were directly impacted each day, totalling approximately 7,000 people throughout the caravan's journey. The audience actively participated in exchange sessions, discussing solutions to issues such as teenage pregnancies, gender-based violence, HIV and AIDS prevention, and comprehensive information on breast cancer.

Several audience members shared poignant stories and reactions during and after the performances, underscoring the significance of the caravan.

“Our parents should allow us to choose the partner we want to stay with or marry for the rest of our lives, of our own free will,” said Giovanna Carlos Gomes, a student in Quinhamel, Biombo region, after one of the performances.

In Guinea-Bissau, a deeply entrenched patriarchal system and widespread gender discrimination contribute to harmful practices against women and girls. The caravan aimed to address issues such as early/forced marriage and Female Genital Mutilation, which are often perpetuated by families adhering to traditional norms. Girls as young as seven years old are forced into marriages, and Female Genital Mutilation is still prevalent.

According to the last Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey (MICS) 2018/2019 conducted in the country, 26.7 percent of young women were married before reaching 18 years of age compared to 37.1 percent in MICS 2014, which represents a substantial improvement made in recent years to reduce child marriage in Guinea-Bissau. While progress has been made in reducing child marriages, challenges persist, particularly in remote regions. Female Genital Mutilation has seen an increase from 49 percent to 52 percent, emphasizing the need for sustained efforts.

By facilitating a unique and immersive experience, theatre enabled the conveyance of key messages on harmful practices and allowed for easier understanding and decision-making, as attested by Marliatu Djalo, President of the National Committee against harmful practices in Guinea-Bissau.

To accelerate the elimination of female genital mutilation and other harmful practices by 2030, UNFPA in Guinea-Bissau will continue interventions to strengthen the capacity of local actors. These interventions will focus on advocacy, influencing decision-makers, and promoting social and behavioral change and to influence decision-makers to apply the laws that prohibit and criminalize FGM in the country.