Sub-Commission on Promotion and Protection of Human Rights 56th Session. Item 6: Specific human rights issues: a) women and human rights

(www.radicalparty.org) DOCUMENTS ON: FGM / DOC.TYPE: U.N./DOCUMENTS

09/08/2004 | Sub-Commission on Promotion and Protection of Human Rights 56th Session. Item 6: Specific human rights issues: a) women and human rights

delivered by: Marina Sikora

Thank you Mr.Chairman.

I thank for the opportunity to speak on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) under the sub-item on women and human rights.
As the Special Rapporteur on traditional practices affecting the health of women and the girl child, Ms. Halima Embarek Warzazi, noted in her report of 17 June 2004, the action initiated in 1996 by the Sub-Commission, is leading to further progress every year. The Transnational Radical Party welcomes this progress and urges all actors concerned to continue their contribution to this worthy exercise.

Despite these positive developments, however, FGM continues to be practiced under the most cruel conditions. FGM continues to act as a barrier to the proper acceptance and integration of women in the political, economic and social environment of many African and Arab countries. FGM continues to be a violation of the psycho-social integrity of women and children in several countries around the world, including Europe and North America, where it is usually practiced underground.

FGM continues to be an attack on human dignity.

This makes it painfully clear that even after 20 years of fieldwork and campaigns, even after positive developments over the past year, the practice still continues. As the Special Rapporteur said, harmful traditional practices cannot be eliminated overnight with a “wave of a magic wand”. A twin approach is necessary; the problem must be tackled at all levels. It is necessary to break into long-established rules of custom, to delegitimise those who intend to continue the practice and to diminish social pressure on people who are willing to abandon it.

It is equally necessary to address the problem through structural measures, to focus on ensuring the effective implementation of all existing treaties, conventions, legislations and protocols, which in itself would be a powerful expression of political will to see the abandonment of FGM.

Mr. Chairman,

When the TRP addressed this body last year, we welcomed the adoption of the Additional Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, also known as the Maputo Protocol.

The Maputo Protocol covers a wide range of women's rights, including the elimination of discrimination against women; the right to dignity; the elimination of harmful practices; the protection of women in armed conflicts; economic and social welfare rights; and health and reproductive rights. Article 5 of the Protocol stipulates that FGM should be prohibited and condemned.

In order to enter into force, the Protocol must be ratified by at least 15 State Parties of the African Union; while 31 Member States have signed, only 3 have ratified it to date.

The Transnational Radical Party urges those member States that have not ratified to do so, as the Maputo Protocol is critical to help establish an institutional framework that will facilitate women's integration and recognition in society.

We would like to bring to the attention of the members of the Sub-Commission some efforts being undertaken to secure the entry into force of the Maputo Protocol, in particular the second phase of the "Stop FGM!" campaign, being implemented by the non-governmental organisation No Peace Without Justice in partnership with UNICEF, the Italian group AIDOS and the Senegal-based organization Tostan with the commitment and support of the Italian Government.

The second phase of the “Stope FGM” campaign, is aimed at the development of a legal and political environment to promote, protect and ensure the human rights of women and children and the abandonment of FGM. As such, similar to the Cairo Conference held in June 2003 during the first phase of the Stop FGM! campaign, it will involve Governments and organisations in Central, Western and Eastern Africa in the fight against FGM and mobilise institutional representatives, members of parliament, NGOs, international experts and members of civil society in the ratification and implementation of instruments prohibiting FGM.

The first of these regional inter-governmental conferences will be held in Nairobi from 16 to 18 September 2004, with the specific goal of promoting knowledge, widening the legal measures to prevent and eradicate FGM and encouraging ratification of the Maputo Protocol.

Mr.Chairman,

Bearing in mind all the positive developments that have occurred in
the struggle against FGM over the past year, the Transnational Radical Party urges this august body to continue to support efforts to secure the abandonment of FGM. We recognise the clear condemnation of the violence against women that FGM represents in the report of the Special Rapporteur and ask the Sub-Commission to endorse this condemnation.

There must be a firm message that invoking customs, traditions or practices, whether in the name of religion or culture, to avoid the granting of protection of physical integrity to millions of women is no longer acceptable.

Furthermore, the TRP calls on the members of the Sub-Commission to encourage the ratification and the implementation of the Additional Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, the Maputo Protocol, as well as to encourage the spread of information aimed at facilitating the process of eradication of the practice and at promoting lasting cultural change in populations that still violate women's rights.

Finally, the TRP calls on the Sub-Commission to set up an "Observatory on FGM" to monitor the situation and support the increasing number of young women refusing to undergo the practice. These young women are showing incredible courage in the face of societal disapproval and a range of other social and cultural pressure; they deserve our praise and, more importantly, our support to help them stand firm in the path they have chosen to protect and uphold their rights.

FGM is an ongoing problem that needs a wide range of efforts from diverse actors if there is to be any hope of seeing it abandoned. There are thousand of young women and baby girls who are undergoing this cruel ritual. We must consolidate our efforts in order to save the next generation from this unforgivable violence.

Thank you

OTHER LANGUAGES