Third international symposium of religious leaders committed to the fight against female genital mutilationStatement by Mr. Youssouf Oomar, Resident Representative Abidjan, 23 October 2007 • Excellency, Mr. President of the Republic, UNICEF would like to express its sincere gratitude to the management of “Fondation Djigui la grande espérance” for the honour of associating it with this event. But, especially by offering it the opportunity to speak on this great day and plead for the respect of the right of girls and women of Africa to their bodily integrity. Female genital mutilations constitute a violation of universally acknowledged human rights, notably the right to bodily integrity and to enjoy the best physical and mental state of health. They intensify the inequalities suffered by girls and women and constitute an obstacle to the achievement of 3 of the 8 Millennium Development Goals, namely MDG3 on gender equality, MDG5 on reduction of maternal mortality and MDG6 on halting the spread of HIV-AIDS. It is estimated that more than 130 million women and girls worldwide are currently victim of female genital mutilation. In Africa, the practice of FGM covers several geographical zones notably, the West, the Centre, the East and part of the North of the continent. In these regions, the proportion of girls and women who are victim of this practice sometimes attains 96% of girls/women aged 15 – 49 years. In Côte d’Ivoire, according to estimations made in 1998-1999, girls/women aged 15 – 49 years who are victims of this practice represented 44.5% i.e. almost one girl/woman out of two. Since then, a law banning the practice of FGM in Côte d’Ivoire was adopted in 1998 and many activities aimed at sensitizing the communities on the harmful effects of this practice have been carried out. UNICEF, whose mandate is to ensure the respect of the rights of children and women, started the fight against this practice since the adoption of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women in 1979. UNICEF’s action in the West African sub-region, and in Côte d’Ivoire in particular, has been based on sensitization of communities in the regions where FGM is practised. These sensitization campaigns conducted by UNICEF and numerous other organizations for several years have had a positive impact on the trend of the practice. Hence, the rate of girls and women aged 15 and 49 years who are victim of FGM in Côte d’Ivoire has decreased by 8 points and currently stands at 36.4%, according to the results of the last Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) . This apparent decline of the phenomenon in Côte d’Ivoire conceals major regional disparities, which indicate a rise in the practice in regions of the country known to be favourable to FGM. Despite a downward trend at the national level, the practice seems to be paradoxically increasing in regions of the North (prevalence of 88%), North-West (88%) and West (73%) . - Excellency, Mr. President, Despite the efforts made, the practice of FGM, therefore, persists in Côte d’Ivoire and in several African countries. The analysis of the results of the last MICS survey indicates that this persistence may be attributed to cultural and religious beliefs of the communities that practise it. In Côte d’Ivoire for example, 70% of the women living in the North-West believe that FGM is a good practice and should be maintained . The rate is 49% and 39% respectively among women of the North and the West of the country. The cultural justification for FGM is real and based on the habits and customs of those who have been practising it for several generations. As for the religious justification, it is derived from wrong interpretation of Islam originating from the confusion between the prescriptions of this religion and the customs of some communities. It is, therefore, not based on any text of the Holy Koran or an authentic Hadith. This is the conclusion of the report by the International Conference of Oulémas on the Prohibition of Violation of the Female Body, held on 22 - 23 November 2006 in Al Azhar in Egypt. Reversing the practice of FGM essentially means initiating dialogue with the communities that practise it, to get them to change in a sustainable manner the cultural habits in place for several generations, without offending existing beliefs by explaining to them that the practice of FGM is not based on any religious principle and specifically on any recommendation by Islam. The Oulémas conference of November 2006 has already paved the way for the fight by affirming clearly the opposition of Islam to the practice of FGM. This symposium will certainly help to reaffirm the commitment of religious leaders to combat FGM and to identify the strategic areas for vigorous action against the practice of FGM in Africa. - Excellency, Mr. President, Let us all pledge, here and now, to strive to ensure that this ceremony marks the starting point of a combined and vigorous action to kick FGM out of Africa and ensure the respect of the right of girls and women of the continent to bodily integrity. Thank you.
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