SWDO (Somali Women's Democratic Organization), jointly with ADIoS (The Italian Association for Women in Development) has organized a national campaign, fully supported by the Somalian government, to eradicate these damaging traditional practices. Indeed, every department of the Somalian government is involved in this national initiative led by the outspoken president of the SWDO, Muraio Garad Ahmed, who wields considerable political power.

AIDos, led by Daniela Colombo and with the assistance of the Italian government, has worked jointly with the SWDO in Somalia to develop viable strategies and extensive teaching aids for all different kinds of programs addressed to different sectors of the population.

The secrecy surrounding infibulation has only recently begun to be lifted in Somalia. It took considerable courage for the SWDO to take up this issue. Thanks tothe perseverance of its leadership, it now has become a national campaign supported not only by the health ministry, but also by all other ministries, especially education. The campaign to eradicate female child genital mutilation is going on in all the schools; it is discussed on the radio and TV. Indeed, no occasion is missed to create awareness among the population about the damage done by infibulation. All families are urged to stop having their daughters "done."

This international seminar had been preceded by a national meeting which had developed a program of action for the joint SWDO-AIDoS Information Campaign. At the international seminar in Mogadishu, many influential national and international leaders gave speeches at the opening and closing sessions in the great hall of the Parliament. The speakers