Female Genital Mutilation News and Research

RSS

Africa, Middle East see decline in female genital mutilation/cutting, U.N. data show

"Changing attitudes have resulted in a decline in female genital mutilation in Africa and the Middle East, where the practice is most prevalent, according to United Nations data released on" the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation, observed February 6, TrustLaw reports.

10 Feb 2013

Efforts to eliminate FGM 'breaking new ground' with approval of U.N. General Assembly resolution

"The fight to eliminate the scourge of female genital mutilation is breaking new ground," following the adoption of a U.N. General Assembly resolution on Thursday "calling on all states to enact legislation banning this egregious human rights violation," Emma Bonino, vice president of the Italian Senate and founder of No Peace Without Justice, writes in a New York Times opinion piece.

21 Dec 2012

U.N. General Assembly adopts resolution urging countries to ban FGM

"The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on Thursday urging countries to ban female genital mutilation, calling it an 'irreparable, irreversible abuse' that threatens about three million girls annually," Reuters reports.

21 Dec 2012

IRIN examines efforts to ban, reduce incidence of FGM/C in Sierra Leone

"Campaigns to lower the rate of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in Sierra Leone are having some impact, but efforts to ban the practice have failed thus far, and despite a push to communicate its health risks, many still believe FGM/C promotes good health and hygiene".

19 Dec 2012

U.N. Human Rights Council passes resolution condemning female genital mutilation

The U.N. General Assembly Human Rights Council on Monday adopted by consensus a resolution calling on U.N. member states to condemn female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM) and "launch education campaigns for girls and boys, women and men, to eliminate it," the Associated Press reports.

28 Nov 2012

Immediate action must be taken to prevent violence against women, FGM

Noting November 25 was the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Ann-Marie Wilson, founder and director of 28 Too Many, writes in the Huffington Post U.K.'s "Politics" blog, "The statistics for violence against women and girls are truly shocking. ... Not only do millions suffer each year but many are victims of repeated and sustained violence."

27 Nov 2012

Consequences of female genital mutilation could be reduced by reconstructive surgery

Reconstructive surgery after female genital mutilation (FGM) appears to reduce pain and restore sexual pleasure in women, according to the first large prospective trial to assess long-term outcomes of a new surgical technique published Online First in The Lancet. Over the past 10 years, between 130 and 140 million women worldwide have been subject to FGM.

12 Jun 2012

Loss of U.S. funding for UNFPA 'would be devastating' to family planning services in developing countries

"By voting to ban any U.S. contribution to UNFPA" in the FY 2013 State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill, the House Appropriations Committee on Thursday "made a judgment call that saving the lives of women and girls around the world is simply not a U.S. priority," Valerie DeFillipo, president of Friends of UNFPA, writes in a Huffington Post "Global Motherhood" opinion piece.

19 May 2012

Thousands of women in UK undergo genital mutilation each year: Report

Reports suggest that nearly 100,000 women in Britain have undergone female genital mutilations. Even medics in the UK are offering to carry out the illegal procedure on girls as young as 10.

23 Apr 2012

National program in Mauritania working to end FGM, IPS reports

"A multi-pronged strategy to end female genital mutilation [FGM] in Mauritania is making gradual progress, though campaigners acknowledge much remains to be done in a country where more than two-thirds of girls suffer excision," Inter Press Service reports.

5 Apr 2012

IPS examines efforts to end FGM in Liberia

Inter Press Service examines efforts to end female genital mutilation (FGM) in Liberia. "Through cooperative efforts with traditional leaders, the government of Liberia is quietly moving to ... bring an end to female genital cutting in Liberia," IPS writes.

4 Apr 2012

Clinton holds press conference marking International Day of Zero Tolerance to FGM

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday marking the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation, recognized on February 6, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton "said ... that there is no cultural justification for female genital cutting, a practice that is sometimes referred to as female circumcision," and that "governments and non-governmental organizations are making progress toward ending female genital mutilation, or FGM, by reaching out to those who still practice it," VOA News reports.

18 Feb 2012

State Department, USAID blog posts support elimination of FGM/C

In support of the ninth annual International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation, Melanne Verveer, ambassador-at-large for global women's issues, and David Robinson, acting assistant secretary of state for population, refugees and migration, outline several examples of U.S. advocacy and funding related to stopping the practice of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in this post on the State Department's "DipNote" blog.

8 Feb 2012

World recognizes 9th annual International Day of Zero Tolerance to FGM/C

As the international community on Monday marked the ninth annual International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C), the U.N. and international and human rights organizations called for an end to FGM/C and are appealing for tougher legislation to halt the practice that has affected up to 140 million girls and women worldwide, according to WHO statistics, VOA News reports.

8 Feb 2012

Women's groups in Somali town push for law banning female genital mutilation/cutting

"Women's groups in the Somali town of Galkayo are lobbying the authorities in the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland to enact a law banning female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), saying the practice was becoming widespread," IRIN reports.

5 Nov 2011

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