Mancham adds voice to call for end of female genital mutilation |04 February 2015

Former President James R. Mancham, in his capacity as a councillor of the World Future Council has joined other councillors and ambassadors on the eve of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in a call on all governments to step up action to end this endemic violation of human and girls’ human rights.

More than 125 million girls and women alive today have been cut in the 29 countries in Africa and Middle East where FGM/C is concentrated, and more than 30 million girls are at risk of being subjected to FGM/C over the next decade. The health and social consequences of this practice are far reaching and undermine all development efforts, and government action is still lacking in many countries.

The International Zero Tolerance Day is an important opportunity to call on governments to introduce comprehensive legal and policy measures that effectively prevent FGM/C, address its consequences and hold perpetrators accountable.

“With political will and long-term, comprehensive State action, we will be able to guarantee future generations a life free from this extreme form of violence against women and girls,“ Mr Mancham said.