Event:International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation
| International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation | |
|---|---|
| Select date | 06/02/2013 |
| Select a city | Global |
| Country | France |
| Summary | International day to raise awareness about the practice of FGM and to campaign aginst it |
Overview
The International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation is observed each year to raise awareness about this practice. Female genital mutilation of any type has been recognized as a harmful practice and violation of the human rights of girls and women. WHO is committed to the elimination of female genital mutilation within a generation and is focusing on advocacy, research and guidance for health professionals and health systems.
Female genital mutilation (FGM) refers to all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. Female genital mutilation has no known health benefits. On the contrary, it is associated with a series of short and long-term risks to both physical, mental and sexual health and well-being.
FGM is affecting about 140 million girls and women, and more than 3 million girls are at risk every year. A special focus for WHO this year, is the troubling trend of health-care providers increasingly being the ones performing female genital mutilation, and thereby contributing to legitimize and maintain the practice.
See also
- Female genital cutting
- Online Discussion: Transforming social norms to prevent violence against women and girls (from 4-13 February 2013) - add your comment!
