Using the Opportunity of the General Assembly to Speak Out Against FGM/C

A high-level side event at the 67 Session of the UN General Assembly called for increased commitment and concerted actions among many partner to end the practice of female genital mutilation and cutting.

The event, hosted by Madame Chantal Boni Yay, First Lady of Benin, and Madame Chantal Campaore, the First Lady of Burkina Faso, included remarks from the two First Ladies; UNFPA Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin; Ms. Emma Bonino, Vice President of the Italian Senate; and representatives from UNICEF and UN Women. All agreed on the necessity of a concerted global partnership between governments, civil society, NGO, academia and relevant UN agencies in order to finally end the harmful traditional practice of FGM/C.

But countries and communities themselves also have to agree to end the practice, Dr. Osotimehin told Madame Campaore in a bilateral meeting. "The resolution [to end FGM/C] has to be owned by African countries. The communities have to embrace it."