WUNRN
FGM – GOOD PRACTICES & MAJOR CHALLENGES IN PREVENTING
& ELIMINATING FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION – UN OHCHR REPORT
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Scroll down to A/HRC/29/20 and click on language translation
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United Nations |
A/HRC/29/20 |
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General Assembly |
Distr.:
General 27 March
2015 Original:
English |
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Human Rights Council
Twenty-ninth session
Annual report of the United Nations High
Commissioner
for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the
High Commissioner and the Secretary-General
Good Practices and Major Challenges in Preventing and Eliminating Female
Genital Mutilation
Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights
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Summary |
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The present report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council
resolution 27/22 on intensifying global efforts and sharing good practices to
effectively eliminate female genital mutilation. Following a brief overview
of issues related to that practice and the applicable legal framework, the
report contains a summary of some of the initiatives undertaken by States,
United Nations entities and non-governmental and other organizations to
eliminate it, and an analysis of the continued challenges. The report contains
a number of conclusions and recommendations, as well as the observations that
female genital mutilation in all its forms is prohibited under international
human rights law and that States have an obligation to respect, protect and
fulfil the right of women and girls to live free from female genital
mutilation. The report includes a call on States to, inter alia, adopt and
implement legislation that prohibits female genital mutilation, in accordance
with international human rights law; develop comprehensive policies to
address female genital mutilation, involving all levels of government;
promote the education of girls; undertake education and awareness-raising
initiatives; challenge the social norms supporting female genital mutilation
and delink the practice from religion, social norms, harmful stereotypes and
cultural beliefs that perpetuate discrimination against women; harness
political leadership to end the practice; and harmonize data collection. |
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Contents
Paragraphs Page
I.
Introduction.........................................................................................................
1–2
3
II. Definition and legal
framework...........................................................................
3–11
3
III. Good practices to eliminate female genital mutilation........................................ 12–57 6
A. Legislative measures.................................................................................. 12–16 6
B. Comprehensive action plans...................................................................... 17–18 7
C. Education and awareness-raising............................................................... 19–28 8
D. Engaging religious and community leaders.................................................. 29–31 9
E. Other initiatives to address societal attitudes
and support for female genital
mutilation..................................................................................................
32–37 10
F. Political leadership.......................................................................................... 38 11
G. Promoting alternative rites of passage....................................................... 39–41 11
H. Cross-border, regional and international cooperation initiatives.................. 42–43 12
I. Protection and support services................................................................. 44–47 12
J. Addressing female genital mutilation in minority communities.................... 48–57 13
IV. Challenges in addressing female genital mutilation............................................ 58–66 14
V. Conclusions and recommendations................................................................... 67–72 16