D. Mina Youhanna.. Leader of humanity and pioneer of human rights globally
He is characterized by strategic thinking and an inspiring leadership personality, which has made him the subject of praise and appreciation from various international figures and human rights institutions.
He is known for his great commitment to the values of justice and equality, as he does not limit himself to theoretical awareness, but rather focuses on achieving tangible practical results that enhance respect for human rights and bring about real change in the lives of individuals and societies.
Dr. Mina has a unique ability to build bridges of communication between different cultures, which made him a role model in the human rights world.
Thanks to his extensive experience and continued dedication, he has succeeded in establishing strong partnerships with international and local organizations working to promote human values and achieve social justice. Considered by many to be an exceptional humanitarian leader who is able to face global challenges with a clear vision and innovative approach, under his wise leadership, the 'Global Conscience for Human Rights' organization has become a leading international platform that seeks to spread the values of peace and justice around the world.
The organization seeks to provide support to marginalized and vulnerable groups and promote a culture of dialogue between different cultures. Within the framework of these efforts, the organization has developed innovative awareness programs that contribute to raising the level of awareness about humanitarian issues, by building bridges of cooperation with local and international communities.
In addition to this, Dr. Mina plays a pivotal role in formulating human rights policies, as he participates in developing effective strategies that ensure the achievement of humanitarian goals on the ground.
He has established strong partnerships with international and local organizations concerned with promoting human values, which strengthens the position of 'Global Conscience' as a trusted body on the international scene.
Dr. Mina's achievements are not limited to awareness-raising only, but rather his influence extends to achieving practical and tangible results in human rights issues. With his deep vision and precise understanding of global challenges, Dr. Mina is keen for the organization to be a source of inspiration for many global leaders and figures working to achieve justice and equality. Through his tireless activity, Dr. Mina shows how the issue of human rights can be an essential pillar for building more just societies. Under his leadership, 'Global Conscience' continues to have a profound impact, becoming a source of inspiration for many. From global leaders and figures working to achieve justice and equality. In conclusion, Dr. Mina Youhanna embodies passion and commitment to human rights values through his leadership of the 'Global Conscience' organization and his tireless efforts to spread awareness and bring about radical changes in humanitarian issues, making him an influential figure who makes a real difference in a world full of challenges, and contributes to building a better future for all.
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At a meeting of the National Committee for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation held in June this year, Minister of Social Solidarity Maya Morsi said FGM is not only a violation against women but is also a crime against childhood, against the body, and against a person's future. 'FGM is not a social tradition or a family custom; it is a festering wound that reopens every day,' she stated. According to official statistics, women's support for FGM in Egypt has plummeted from 75 per cent in 2000 to 30 per cent in 2021. While Morsi lauded the progress, 'the journey is far from over,' she said. 'Projections estimate that seven million girls in Egypt remain at risk of being subjected to the practice between 2015 and 2030.' To meet the United Nations goal of eradicating FGM by 2030, the pace of intervention must be accelerated to 15 times its current rate, she remarked. DECLINE 'The decline in FGM rates cannot be attributed to a single initiative or isolated strategy. 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The first phase, from the early 20th century to the 1950s, saw the majority of parents circumcising their girls. But this was the same period that saw a rise in education and the establishment of the Egyptian University in Cairo. In 1928, Ali Pasha Ibrahim, the first Egyptian Dean of the Qasr Al-Aini Faculty of Medicine, stated that FGM would not be taught at the Faculty of Medicine. Religious perspectives also began to shift during this period. In 1905, Sheikh Rashid Reda said FGM was not obligatory in Islam. In the 1940s, Sheikh Hussein Makhlouf, grand mufti of Egypt of the time, echoed the same opinion. The second phase, from the 1950s through the 1990s, saw the first interventions by the government and religious institutions against FGM. In 1959, Noureddin Tarraf, the then minister of health, banned the practice, and the then grand imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Mahmoud Shaltout issued a religious edict declaring that 'we have no reason to advocate FGM, either religiously, morally, or medically.' These interventions were in line with the United Nations Commission on Human Rights initial deliberations on FGM in 1952 and a 1958 Resolution issued by the United Nations Economic and Social Council, which classified FGM as a harmful socio-cultural practice. FGM was also addressed in both the press and literature at the time, most notably in writer Fathi Ghanem's acclaimed novel Zeinab and the Throne (1972). Writer Nawal Al-Saadawi also recounted her harrowing personal experience with female circumcision in her book The Hidden Face of Eve (1977). Fouad believes these interventions contributed to raising the awareness of a limited group of urban middle-class families, some of whom chose not to subject their daughters to FGM. The Ministry of Health's 1995 Demographic and Health Survey estimated that three per cent of Egyptian women of reproductive age (15 to 49 years) had not undergone circumcision. The third phase (1994-2008), Fouad said, was marked by heightened societal debate about FGM but little decline in the rates of the practice. FGM was still a controversial matter, especially following the 1994 United Nations International Conference on Population and Development, held in Cairo and seeing international representation. FGM emerged in the Egyptian media and political discourse not merely as a traditional cultural practice, but also as a battleground of political contention. Political Islam groups and allied conservative factions defended FGM as a symbol of religious and national identity against the forces of the West. Treading the same path, Sheikh Ali Gad Al-Haq, grand imam of Al-Azhar from 1982 to 1996, said that circumcision was a religious duty for both males and females and an Islamic rite. His successor, Mohamed Sayed Tantawi, adopted a more moderate, albeit not definitive, view of FGM, saying that it was not a religious obligation in Islamic law. However, he added that it was up to medical professionals to determine whether the procedure was necessary in individual cases. Fouad noted that in this third phase the Ministry of Health's stand against FGM was not conclusive. In 1966, Ismail Sallam, the then minister of health, had prohibited doctors from performing FGM, but permitting it in cases deemed medically necessary. This policy enabled physicians to continue carrying out FGM. During this period, the rate of FGM in Egypt skyrocketed to 97 per cent among women aged 15 to 49. Political debate about FGM continued, the extremist religious tide rose, especially in the countryside, and the opinion of official religious and medical institutions about FGM was not conclusive. CHALLENGES Amid these challenges, the first national programme to combat FGM was launched in 2003 under the auspices of the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood chaired by Ambassador Moushira Khattab. The programme's principal objective was to foster a supportive social and cultural environment that would empower Egyptian families to abandon this form of violence against women. Between 2003 and 2008, it implemented a series of measures in this direction. A critical turning point occurred in June 2007, when 13-year-old Bodour died at the hands of a physician in Minya during a circumcision procedure. At that point, the programme mobilised key religious, medical, legislative, and media institutions in adopting firm stances against FGM. In 2007, Egypt's Dar Al-Iftaa under the leadership of Ali Gomaa issued an edict declaring FGM as haram (religiously forbidden). In the same year, Hatem Al-Gabali, the then minister of health, issued a decree banning all healthcare professionals from performing FGM in any setting, and the Doctors Syndicate released a statement prohibiting physicians from engaging in the practice. In 2008, parliament approved a law criminalising FGM. The fourth phase, from 2008 until the present, Fouad said, has seen several milestones initiated by or coordinated with the programme, the most notable of which have been the successes of civil society, government entities, and media institutions in countering efforts by extremist religious groups to revoke the 2008 law criminalising FGM and to reintroduce the practice during the Muslim Brotherhood's rule in 2012. In 2013, the Supreme Constitutional Court rejected a lawsuit filed by religious extremists to annul the 2007 ministerial decree and the 2008 legislation criminalising FGM. FGM was reclassified from a misdemeanour in 2008 to a felony between 2016 and 2021. The first enforcement of the anti-FGM law took place in 2015 seven years after the enactment of the law, when the physician and the father of Soheir Al-Batea, a girl from Daqahliya who had died during the procedure, were sentenced to periods in prison. In May 2019, a National Committee to Combat FGM was established by a decision of the prime minister, in collaboration with the National Council for Women and the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood. Law 10/2021 increased the maximum penalty for FGM to 20 years' imprisonment. The Ministry of Social Solidarity has submitted a proposal containing a host of measures aimed at protecting girls against FGM, including the integration of anti-FGM awareness messages into the Takaful and Karama social welfare programmes that reach 30 million Egyptians, as well as offering in-kind incentives to families that do not circumcise their girls. Shelters for women survivors of violence have been opened to operate around the clock, and the Ministry of Social Solidarity's hotline (16439) has been designated to receive reports of violence against women. The committee has also highlighted examples of Egyptian families who have chosen to abandon FGM, despite the restrictive traditions surrounding it. 'There is now a high level of awareness regarding the dangers of FGM, thanks to the engagement of both governmental and civil society institutions. Breaking the taboo has led to legislative reforms and the imposition of prison sentences, even for fathers who authorise FGM,' said Mona Ezzat, chair of the Board of Trustees of the Elnoon Foundation for Family Care. 'Highlighting the fatal incidents of FGM has heightened families' recognition of the gravity of the practice and its harmful consequences. These achievements are the result of cumulative and sustained efforts,' Ezzat said. 'Sadly, however, progress remains slow,' she added. 'This is largely due to deep-rooted cultural legacies linking FGM to the control, discipline, and moral education of girls. Dismantling this conservative, patriarchal mindset that continues to shape society's perception of women is key to eradicating FGM.' * A version of this article appears in print in the 3 July, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
