Egyptian public, private sectors off on Apr 25 marking Sinai Liberation    Egypt's SCZONE welcomes Zhejiang Province delegation for trade talks    Beltone Venture Capital partners with Citadel International to manage $30m startup fund    S. Africa to use contingency reserves to tackle debt    Gaza health authorities urge action for cancer, chronic disease patients    Transport Minister discusses progress on supplying new railway carriages with Hungarian company    Egypt's local gold prices see minor rise on April 18th    Expired US license impacts Venezuela crude exports    Taiwan's TSMC profit ups in Q1    Yen Rises, dollar retreats as G7 eyes currency calm    Egypt, Bahrain vow joint action to end Gaza crisis    Egypt looks forward to mobilising sustainable finance for Africa's public health: Finance Minister    Egypt's Ministry of Health initiates 90 free medical convoys    Egypt, Serbia leaders vow to bolster ties, discuss Mideast, Ukraine crises    Singapore leads $5b initiative for Asian climate projects    Karim Gabr inaugurates 7th International Conference of BUE's Faculty of Media    EU pledges €3.5b for oceans, environment    Egypt forms supreme committee to revive historic Ahl Al-Bayt Trail    Debt swaps could unlock $100b for climate action    Acts of goodness: Transforming companies, people, communities    Eid in Egypt: A Journey through Time and Tradition    President Al-Sisi embarks on new term with pledge for prosperity, democratic evolution    Amal Al Ghad Magazine congratulates President Sisi on new office term    Tourism Minister inspects Grand Egyptian Museum, Giza Pyramids    Egypt's healthcare sector burgeoning with opportunities for investors – minister    Egypt starts construction of groundwater drinking water stations in South Sudan    Russians in Egypt vote in Presidential Election    Egyptian, Japanese Judo communities celebrate new coach at Tokyo's Embassy in Cairo    Uppingham Cairo and Rafa Nadal Academy Unite to Elevate Sports Education in Egypt with the Introduction of the "Rafa Nadal Tennis Program"    Egypt's powerhouse 'The Tank' Hamed Khallaf secures back-to-back gold at World Cup Weightlifting Championship"    Financial literacy becomes extremely important – EGX official    Euro area annual inflation up to 2.9% – Eurostat    Egypt builds 8 groundwater stations in S. Sudan    BYD، Brazil's Sigma Lithium JV likely    UNESCO celebrates World Arabic Language Day    Motaz Azaiza mural in Manchester tribute to Palestinian journalists    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



UNFPA celebrates International Day against FGM
Published in Daily News Egypt on 05 - 02 - 2008

CAIRO: To mark the International Day against Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) released a statement calling for stronger commitment to end the practice.
"We call on governments to protect the rights of women and girls, said Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director of UNFPA.
"We call on leaders to take action to end female genital mutilation in line with the United Nations resolution adopted last year, she added.
The resolution said the practice "constitutes an irreparable, irreversible abuse, citing mounting medical research that proves the health threats caused by FGM. Among such threats is increasing vulnerability to HIV, raising the risk of maternal and infant mortality, and harming women's psychological, sexual and reproductive health.
Obaid noted that an estimated 100 million to 140 million women and girls worldwide have undergone the practice, and three million more girls are at risk each year. She added that many chose to suffer in silence in fear 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 programs, which take into account local beliefs and realities, she said in the statement.
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/cutting. We call on governments and other partners to contribute to the UNFPA/UNICEF joint program and trust fund to end the harmful practice in one generation in 17 high-prevalence countries. "
The statement noted that a national alliance has been actively combating FGM in Egypt for more than a decade. UNFPA is supporting these national initiatives. In it s past 5-year cycle of program assistance (2002-2006) UNFPA provided technical and financial support to the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, Global Youth Partners and the Egyptian Family Planning Association to raise awareness on FGM among youth, their caretakers and religious leaders in schools, medical clinics, youth-centers and seminars.
In its upcoming cycle of program assistance (2007-2011) UNFPA will scale up its support for initiatives to combat FGM by providing substantial support to the NCCM-led FGM- Free-Village-Project that aims to reverse existing community peer-pressure and eliminate the practice in villages across Egypt.
Five villages have already organized symbolic festivities to mark their joint decision to ban FGM and it is likely that many of the other project-villages will follow suit in the future.


Clic here to read the story from its source.