International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation
[1] One of the beliefs in support for this day acknowledges that culture is in "constant flux", and with the concerns begetting FGM being so high-risk, the abolition of such practices must be prompt.
On February 6, 2003, Stella Obasanjo, the First Lady of Nigeria and spokesperson for the Campaign Against Female Genital Mutilation, made the official declaration on "Zero Tolerance to FGM" in Africa during a conference organized by the Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (IAC).
The United Nations, UN, got involved with this activist event alongside the students and made efforts to make a more permanent recognition and proclamation of zero tolerance for the persisting epidemic of FGM.
[8] Michael Gove met with Fahma Mohamed and members of the youth group Integrate Bristol, who have also played a key role in raising awareness of FGM.
It has been spoken about on numerous occasions that holding a day for zero intolerance of FGM is not just based on medical precautions, but as a way to protest the misogyny against females that is indirectly posed by the practice.
Written in an informational article about FGM on Every Woman, Every Child, which is a movement launched by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that puts into action the Global Strategy for Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health, online database, it is noted that, "it reflects deep-rooted inequality between the sexes, and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against women and girls," in reference to the practice of FGM.
Lastly, obstetric complications often result post FGM procedures, some of which including an increased risk of difficult labour, having a Caesarean section performed, experiencing postpartum hemorrhage, or a recourse to episiotomy.
UNFP's website, in an article written on last year's observance of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM (February 6, 2016), stated that "UNFPA and UNICEF jointly lead the largest global program to accelerate the abandonment of female genital mutilation."
5137), which is a bipartisan legislation co-sponsored by over 138 Members of Congress in addition to the support from Equality Now, to address this gaping loophole of girls receiving the procedure out of the country.
In 2012, the UNFPA observed the day on 8 February, which included a special high level event held at the United Nations in New York.
Again in 2012 in the latter month of December, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution A/RES/67/146, a resolution that calls upon states within the inclusive representation of the United Nations system, civil society and stakeholders together to continue to observe 6 February as the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation and to use the day to enhance awareness-raising campaigns and to take concrete actions against female genital mutilations".
