Female Genital Mutilation News and Research

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Financial and political commitments to improve health of women and children

In only one year, more than 100 countries, foundations, multilateral organizations, the UN, the private sector, and academic and professional associations have made unprecedented financial and political commitments to greatly improve the health of women and children.

21 Sep 2011

Circumcision subjected to vote this November in San Francisco

The debate over whether routine circumcision of baby boys being either hygienic, safe or brutal and medically unnecessary continues in San Francisco. This November, residents will vote if the procedure shall be continued.

10 Jul 2011

EOW hosts national conference to highlight practice of Female Genital Mutilation

Girls from the UK are being subjected to illegal genital mutilation, despite the devastating consequences, a University of Leicester postgraduate student claims.

15 Jun 2011

Opinion: Ending female genital mutilation

"Is it cultural imperialism for Westerners to oppose [female] genital mutilation? Yes, perhaps, but it's also justified. But it is clear that the most effective efforts against genital mutilation are grass-roots initiatives by local women working for change from within a culture".

13 May 2011

U.N. officials call for renewed effort to stop female genital mutilation/cutting

U.N. officials on Sunday called for countries to renew their commitment to end female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), a practice which endangers the lives of women and girls, Inter Press Service reports (Deen, 2/7).

9 Feb 2011

Myths and misunderstandings about medical male circumcision for HIV prevention

A new report from the Women's HIV Prevention Tracking Project (WHiPT), a collaborative initiative of AVAC and the ATHENA Network, features an unprecedented collection of voices from Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland and Uganda reflecting on what male circumcision for HIV prevention means for women. It highlights women's perspectives, advocacy priorities and recommendations on this new prevention strategy.

14 Dec 2010

UNICEF report identifies factors helping, hindering efforts to drive down FGM/C in five African countries

A report released on Thursday by UNICEF highlights the recent progress made in reducing the practice of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) despite ongoing social pressures to continue the practice in five African countries, Deutsche Presse-Agentur/M&C reports (11/18).

19 Nov 2010

Sec. Clinton highlights importance of U.S.-Australia partnership to reduce violence against women worldwide

As part of her two-week Asia-Pacific tour, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was in Australia on Saturday, where she called for increased cooperation between Australia and the U.S. to help drive down violence against women globally, Bloomberg reports.

9 Nov 2010

Also in Global Health News: India's food security; ASEAN to address disaster preparedness; Iraqi food aid; Why fistula plagues Kenya

A Reuters article discusses the implications of an Indian bill that would "subsidise grains for the poor, a move that will impact government finances as well as political support." According to the news service, the proposal "aims to partly shield a substantial voter base from surging inflation in a country where about 40 percent of the 1.2 billion population lives below the U.N. estimated poverty line."

22 Jul 2010

IRIN, IPS examine pending U.S. legislation to address global hunger, FGM

IRIN reports on the Global Food Security Act, a bill aimed at expanding the U.S. government's role in combatting hunger around the world. The legislation is co-sponsored by Sens. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.).

15 Jun 2010

Journal explores polemic issues related to cosmetic surgery, body image and sexuality

Elsevier announced today the publication of the May 2010 issue of Reproductive Health Matters, which brings to light polemic issues related to cosmetic surgery, body image and sexuality. The issue explores the lack of proper information about the risks of complications and failure rate of many of these procedures.

14 Jun 2010

Advances in women's health, practice of obstetrics and gynaecology to be discussed at SOGC

The 66th Annual Clinical Meeting of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. Leading international and Canadian experts will meet to discuss the latest knowledge and advances in women's health and in the practice of obstetrics and gynaecology.

29 May 2010

African lawmakers appeal for U.N. resolution banning female genital mutilation

"The cutting or removal of young girls' and women's clitoris and/or labia affects some 120 to 140 million women ... mostly in Africa and the Middle East, according to the World Health Organisation," Agence France-Presse writes.

6 May 2010

Clinton delivers speech at U.N. women's meeting as conference closes

"Calling the subjugation of women a threat to American security, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary [Rodham] Clinton made a vibrant plea to give equal rights to women around the world," during a speech a the U.N. on Friday, Agence France-Presse reports.

16 Mar 2010

WHO and UN partners join hands to eliminate discrimination against women

Thirty years after the adoption of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), many girls and women still do not have equal opportunities to realize rights recognized by law.

11 Mar 2010

Female genital mutilation reversal surgeries: Clitoraid announces second round in Trinidad

Las Vegas-based Clitoraid, a non-profit, all-volunteer organization initiated by Rael, founder and leader of the International Raelian Movement, announced Friday that its second round of female genital mutilation (FGM) reversal surgeries will take place March 2-3 in Trinidad, Colo.

26 Feb 2010

Reproductive Health Matters' November issue focuses on criminalisation

Elsevier announced today the publication of the November issue of Reproductive Health Matters. Articles in the issue look at criminalisation in relation to a range of global issues: rape and sexual violence; female genital mutilation; selling and buying sex; provision and use of modern contraception and induced abortion; homosexuality, and HIV transmission.

4 Dec 2009

RWJF honors advocate for torture victims with the 2009 Community Health Leader Award

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) today announced its selection of Dr. Uwe Jacobs, clinical and executive director of Survivors International, San Francisco, to receive a Community Health Leaders Award. He is one of 10 extraordinary Americans who will receive the RWJF honor for 2009 at a ceremony this evening at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C.

8 Oct 2009

Senate Foreign Relations Committee to hear a testimony on global crisis of violence against women and girls

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hear testimony on Thursday to support groundbreaking legislation that addresses the global crisis of violence against women and girls. Amnesty International praised Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) for their commitment to the International Violence Against Women Act and urged reintroduction of the bill, which would apply the force of U.S. diplomacy to fight violence against women in selected countries.

5 Oct 2009

World warned about three major threats to human health

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning concerning major threats to human health.

20 May 2008