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International: Today: the
International Day Against Female Genital Mutilation
Message from Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director
of the United Nations Population Fund
February 6, 2008 - (UNFPA) "Today UNFPA, the
United Nations Population Fund, calls for stronger commitment to
end female genital mutilation. We call on governments to protect
the rights of women and girls.
We call on leaders to take action to end female
genital mutilation in line with the United Nations resolution adopted
last year. In the resolution, governments reiterated that female
genital mutilation violates the rights of women and girls.
They said the practice constitutes an irreparable,
irreversible abuse. They cited mounting medical evidence that female
genital mutilation poses a serious threat to the health of women
and girls, increasing their vulnerability to HIV, raising the risk
of maternal and infant mortality, and harming their psychological
and sexual and reproductive health.
Despite these findings, an estimated 100 million
to 140 million women and girls worldwide have undergone the practice
and 3 million more girls are at risk each year. Many women and girls
are traumatized by the experience and suffer in silence, afraid
of being excluded from their communities.
In line with the resolution, UNFPA calls on governments
to develop effective policies for the elimination of female genital
mutilation. We urge all decision makers, at all levels, to play
leadership roles in eliminating female genital mutilation. We call
on national and community leaders to support the development of
prevention and educational programmes, which take into account local
beliefs and realities.
Intensified efforts are urgently needed to stop
the practice in all its forms. Today, UNFPA pledges to increase
support for efforts to end female genital mutilation. We call on
governments and other partners to contribute to the UNFPA/UNICEF
joint programme and trust fund to end the harmful practice in one
generation in 17 high-prevalence countries.
At UNFPA, we remain committed to women’s
empowerment and gender equality and the right to sexual and reproductive
health."
From:http://www.unfpa.org/news/news.cfm?ID=1096&Language=1
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PeaceWomen 