UN: 2,000 communities across Africa abandoned female genital mutilation in 2011

2012-02-07 10:56:09 GMT+7 (ICT)

NEW YORK (BNO NEWS) -- Nearly 2,000 communities across Africa are believed to have abandoned the practice of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in 2011, according to a new United Nations (UN) report released on Monday.

Over the last few years, the total number of communities renouncing FGM/C has now reached 8,000. The report, issued by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), shows a positive step toward a renewed global push to permanently end the practice.

UNFPA Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin, speaking on the International Day of Zero Tolerance to FGM/C which is observed every February 6, said the report also shows that social norms and cultural practices are changing. "Communities are uniting to protect the rights of girls and women," he said

Osotimehin, along with UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake, marked the day by renewing their commitment to put an end to the practice and calling on the global community to join the effort. "Together, we can abolish FGM/C in one generation and help millions of girls and women to live healthier, fuller lives," Osotimehin and Lake said in a statement.

FGM/C refers to a number of practices which involve cutting away part or all of a girl's external genitalia. The practice - recognized globally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women - has no health benefits, causes severe pain and has several immediate and long-term health consequences, according to UN agencies.

Each year, around three million girls and women - or some 8,000 girls each day - face the risk of mutilation or cutting. An estimated 130 million to 140 million girls and women have undergone the practice, mostly in Africa and some countries in Asia and the Middle East.

The UN report, which is prepared by the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Program for the Acceleration of the Abandonment of FGM/C that was set up in 2008, tries to spur change through a culturally sensitive, human rights-based approach that promotes collective abandonment of the practice.

The program includes engaging all community groups, such as traditional and religious leaders, women, men and young girls themselves, in discussing the harmful effects of the practice, while highlighting that it is not a religious requirement. In addition, it also supports laws and policies against the practice.

The initiative is being carried out in 15 African countries: Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2012-02-07

As is demonstrated by the link below the problem of female genital mutilation is intertwined with other archaic practices such as honor killing. Imho all related issues need addressing together as they have the same root cause.

http://www.phyllis-chesler.com/1045/girl-with-three-legs

Although she has changed all the names, Soraya's female relatives are especially "shamed" and angry that she has exposed them. They are not ashamed of the damage they have done to their daughters, they are not angry about how they themselves have been damaged, they are only ashamed of being held accountable for their daughters' suffering. They have told Soraya that "You are insulting our family. We will hurt you. Do not come to Canada."