Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 7th Feb. UN head Antonio Guterres on Monday said that female Genital Mutilation, or FGM, is an “abhorrent violation of fundamental human rights” as he marked the International Day of Zero Tolerance against the FGM which is a threat to 4.2 million girls this year.
Guterres said that the practice of genital cutting, prevalent in some cultures for more than a thousand years, causes lifelong damage to both the physical and mental health of women and girls.
“It is one of the most vicious manifestations of the patriarchy that permeates our world”, he added.
He said with more than four million girls at risk this year alone from the pernicious act of gender-based violence, urgent investment together with action is needed, so the world can reach the SDGs by 2030.
He added that the practice was “rooted in the same gender inequalities and complex social norms that limit women’s participation and leadership and restrict their access to education and employment.
“This discrimination damages the whole of society, and we need urgent action by the whole of society to end it.”
UN sexual and reproductive health agency UNFPA, is partnering this year with UNICEF on eliminating FGM in a campaign themed, Partnership with Men and Boys to transform Social and gender Norms to End FGM.
They called for the international community to foster male engagement on just how harmful FGM is and uplift the voices of women and girls.
UN agencies said that initiatives are underway by the UN and NGO partners have resulted “in a surge of male allies such as religious and traditional leaders, health workers, law enforcement officials, members of civil society and grassroots organisations”, “and have led to notable achievements in the protection of women and girls.”
Guterres called on men and boys “everywhere to join me in speaking out and stepping forward to end female genital mutilation, for the benefit of all.”
He concluded that what is most needed is a commitment to social change, and strong partnerships, to end FGM, once and for all.
UNFPA and UNICEF joint programme to accelerate the elimination of FGM has been running since 2008, and focuses on 17 countries in Africa and the Middle East, and also supports regional and global initiatives.
Over 6 million girls and women have received prevention, protection and care services, while around 45 million people have made public declarations to abandon FGM practices.
According to UNFPA’s annual report on FGM for 2021, over 532,000 girls have been prevented from undergoing FGM.
UNFPA estimated two million cases of FGM by 2030 that would otherwise have been averted, attributable to the regressive nature of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a UNICEF analysis in 2020, it’s still the case that one in four girls and women worldwide or 52 million people have experienced FGM performed by health personnel, pointed to “an alarming trend in the medicalization of female genital mutilation”.
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