140 million girls have undergone Female Genital Mutilation worldwide – Group

Statistics at the World Health Organization (WHO), indicate that an estimated number of 140 million girls in the world have undergone Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

Mrs Florence Ali, President of the Ghana Association for Women’s Welfare (GAWW) who disclosed this, said female genital mutilation is a violation of several human rights including the right to life, physical integrity and that three million girls and women are at risk of being subjected to the practice.”

Mrs Ali said this during a press conference organized by GAWW in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs (MOWAC) to commemorate Zero Tolerance to FGM Day.

She said in 2003 Zero Tolerance for FGM Day was adopted by 49 countries including Ghana and declared by the United Nations (UN) as a means to focus world attention on the dangers of the practice.

“The year 2010 was set as a year to end FGM but the date was revised to 2015 in line with the Millennium Development Goals.”

Mrs Ali added that last year, the 17th session of the Assembly of Head of States and Governments held in Malabo Equatorial Guinea, supported a draft Resolution at the 66th ordinary Session of the General Assembly of the UN to ban FGM worldwide.

She said the Assembly recalled the protocol to the African Charter on Human and people Rights adopted in Maputo which in article five requires state parties to prohibit and condemn all forms of FGM through legislative measures enforced by sanctions.

She said the assembly expressed deep concern at the continued practice of FGM in spite numerous campaigns conducted over the last 30 years.

Mrs Ali said “GAWW is concerned about the under reporting of FGM cases and that the media have the power to help save girls from FGM and other cruel traditional practices adding that with powerful education and advocacy activities the problem could be eradicated.”

Source: GNA