Zero tolerance for FGM.

• Tenlastelegging: Worldwide news - Female genital mutilation - Brief article

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UNFPA is urging the international community to back its pledge for Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) by intensifying advocacy and grassroots interventions against the practice and mobilising additional resources to combat it.

Ms Fama Hane Ba, the Director of the Africa Division at UNFPA, said that although considerable progress had been made in some countries, there are still worrying trends. Ms Ba urged governments, partners and communities to commit themselves to the elimination of FGM, as it violates the basic human rights of women and girls and seriously endangers their health, leaving lasting physical and psychological effects.

Worldwide, 100-140 million women and girls have been subjected to this practice--most of whom live in Africa and the Middle East. Healthcare workers are also reporting increasing numbers of FGM/C cases among immigrant communities in Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand as well as Malaysia, Indonesia, India and...