How can the process of putting an end to female genital mutilation (FGM) be accelerated? One way is by encouraging men to take action alongside women, according to the IPU, the International Organization for Migration, the Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children and the Human Rights Office, Geneva Department for Security, Police and the Environment.
For the third time, the four partners joined hands to heighten awareness of the issue, on 5 February, one day before the International Day of Zero Tolerance to FGM. This year, they held two events: a panel discussion entitled Men take action at the University of Geneva and an exhibition of objects and materials related to FGM at the Museum of Ethnography of Geneva.
The purpose was to explore in greater depth the positive role that men can play in putting an end to this practice, which affects between 100 and 140 million girls and women throughout the world. The IPU video entitled FGM: Men take action, was shown to the public. It was also broadcast at the Museum of Ethnography and to the 75 Active European Broadcasting Union’s Members.
In April, during the 120th IPU Assembly in Addis Ababa, IPU President Dr. Theo-Ben Gurirab, accompanied by the Vice-President of the IPU Executive Committee, Greek legislator Ms. Elsa Papademetriou, visited a centre set up by the Inter-African Committee (IAC) on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children. They exchanged views with religious and traditional leaders on how to put an end to FGM and met with two former practitioners who had decided to abandon their knives and benefit from an IAC reconversion programme.
