Per la protezione e la promozione dei diritti umani, della democrazia, dello stato di diritto e della giustizia internazionale
27 Feb 2018 - NPWJ News Digest on FGM & women's rights
NPWJ in the news
Elimination des MGF au Burkina : Les FDS appelées en renfort, Aline Ariane BAMOUNI, Aujourd'hui au Faso, 27 février 2018
Elimination des MGF au Burkina : Les FDS appelées en renfort, Aline Ariane BAMOUNI, Aujourd'hui au Faso, 27 Feb 2018
Un atelier d’information et de plaidoyer sur la problématique des Mutilations génitales féminines (MGF) à l’intention des Forces de défense et de sécurité (FDS) s’est ouvert à Ouagadougou, ce lundi 26 février 2018.
Le présent atelier, organisé par l’ONG Voix de femmes, en collaboration avec «No Peace Without Justice» constitue l’une des dernières activités du projet Ban MGF et s’inscrit dans la dynamique de mobilisation des acteurs nationaux contre la pratique des MGF. Pour la présidente de Voix de femmes, il s’agit de bénéficier de l’implication plus grande et soutenue des FDS pour l’accélération de l’élimination des MGF.
FGM violates women’s right at least 200 million survivors says –Aslup
By Sarjo Camara Singateh, Foroyaa, 23 Feb 2018
Female genital mutilation continues to hamper lives of women and girls. The US ambassador, Patricia Aslup said at least 200 million girls and women alive have under gone some form of FGM/C.
She said the act is a grave and lifelong harm, it has been proven to cause to the physical and mental health of women and girls. She highlighted that if the current trends continue, many more millions of girls are at risk of being subjected to the practice by 2030.
It is with this backdrop that GAMCOTRAP and its partners join the whole world to commemorate Zero tolerance to end female genital mutilation yesterday at the Friendship Hostel, in Bakau Stadium.
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Niccolo Figa-Talamanca, BanFGM Project Worldwide Secretary General of No Peace Without Justice said the duration to end female genital mutilation is been a while but gaining momentum. “A right is a right if it is protected by the law,” he said
He noted that the physical manifestation of women leaders in the struggle to end FGM cannot be estimated. He also calls for the enforcement of the law to protect women. He stated that collective measures are needed to protect the girl child, because it takes a lot of energy to protect women from harmful practices.
Gamcotrap commemorates Zero Tolerance Day to end FGM
By Isatou Senghore-Njie, The Point, 23 Feb 2018
The Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices -Gamcotrap- and No Peace Without Justice last Wednesday celebrated the International Zero tolerance day onto end Female Genital Mutilation –FGM- on the theme “Accelerate Zero Tolerance to end FGM by 2030. Over the years, Gamcotrap has taken the lead in celebrating zero tolerance to end FGM in The Gambia working with all sectors across the country. The international day of zero tolerance on FGM is a global event adopted by the United Nations sub-commission on human rights.
Speaking at the event hosted at the Friendship hostel at the independence Stadium in Bakau, American Ambassador Patricia Aslup said as the day is celebrated, people must know that zero tolerance means exactly that zero tolerance is placed on an act of violence against women that neither has religious basis nor relevance in modern culture.
“We know that FMG/C is considered a rite of passage in communities and because of this, we know that it will not end simply by passing a law. FGM/C will not end until communities collectively and publicly advocate for zero tolerance and work together to end its practice.” Ambassador Aslup said the advancement of women and girls is essential to peace, prosperity, and security, noting that they remain committed in their efforts to combat all forms of gender-based violence, including FGM/C while renewing the call for zero tolerance to end the harmful procedure that affects women and girls in far too many places across the globe.
Musa Jallow from Gamcotrap said law is necessary but its effective implementation and enforcement and public awareness of the powers of the law is the most important.
He added that enforcing the law that prohibits FGM is critical to legitimise local advocacy and educational efforts, to strengthen those who seek to defy social pressures of tradition and reject FGM to protect its victims and to end this event.
Niccolo Figa Talamanca from No Peace Without Justice said the liberation of women is very essential and the mission that brought Gamcotrap into the fight is the same mission that brought his organisation.