WUNRN News includes recent articles, releases, event announcements, calls to action, and other updates. WUNRN News items may or may not indicate direct references to the U.N. Study (E/CN.4/2002/73/Add.2) Juridical and Factual Aspects. WUNRN reserves the right to post and edit, as appropriate to the Mission Statement of the WUNRN Program.

02/06/04: Factual Aspect FB.1. Female Genital Mutilation:

International Zero Tolerance to FGM
From an Amnesty International Press Release: Amnesty International is appealing to all governments to ensure effective protection of girls from female genital mutilation (FGM). The appeal is being made as the world observes the first International Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation Day. "Governments are responsible for protecting women and girls' physical and mental integrity. Moving against FGM should be part of a comprehensive approach to protect women from violence and assert their equal status in society, " Amnesty International said.

During its last meeting in February 2003, the Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (IAC) adopted a "Declaration of Zero Tolerance to FGM on the African Continent." The Declaration stresses that the "zero tolerance forum will be an initiative which will bring all our efforts to celebrate, reflect and deliberate on FGM and to renew our commitment to protect African women from cultural and traditional belief systems that are inimical to the sexual and reproductive rights of women in the continent."

The February 2003 meeting also adopted a Common Agenda to provide a common framework for all organizations and actors to intensify and coordinate activities at different levels while respecting their diversity. So far, only 14 African countries have adopted laws banning the practice. Despite the fact that enforcement of the laws is made difficult by social pressure to undergo the ritual, Amnesty International believes that legislation is an important tool in creating a protective environment for girls and women affected by this practice."

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