Country: Democratic Republic of Congo

Country: Democratic Republic of Congo

Topic: Female Genital Mutilation

Delegate: Khyati Zala, Herricks High School

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states in Article 5 that “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) violates current global human rights which include freedoms from gender discrimination and bodily integrity. The Charter of the United Nations states in the preamble that the “United Nations is determined… to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person in the equal rights of men and women…” Female Genital Mutilation, or FGM, is viewed as a global threat to individual rights and international agreements as well. The United Nations, through UNICEF, UNIFEM, WOMANKIND Worldwide, and other organizations has taken steps towards solving this issue on a small scale by educating women and young girls about the medical effects of FGM in their respected African villages. However, many villagers are skeptical due to cultural beliefs and incorrect information that has fueled FGM as a positive procedure for many years. Recently, a resolution WHA61.16 has been written in May 2008 a the Sixty-First World Health Assembly which aims for the Member States “to accelerate actions towards the elimination of female genital mutilation, including education and information necessary for full understanding of the gender, health and human rights dimensions of female genital mutilation” Similarly, the Regional Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) for Africa has passed a resolution urging those governments who participate “to adopt appropriate policies and strategies in order to eradicate female circumcision” and “to forbid medicalization of female circumcision and to discourage health professionals from performing such surgery.” Optimally, FGM has begun to decrease at a very slow rate therefore making it necessary for the nations to create a solution to accelerate the pace to its eradication.

Due to the horrendous effects FGM has taken on women throughout Africa, UNICEF and other NGOs, such as Women for Women International, World Association of Women Entrepreneurs (FCEM), Worldwide Organization for Women-Africa (WOW-Africa), and The Inter-African Committee (IAC) on Traditional Practices affecting the Health of Women and Children are working together to bring awareness to the topic to places where FGM is highly practiced. 15 million people are circumcised annually, most of them being young women. Direct medical effects such as excruciating pain, shock, hemorrhage, genital ulceration, the increased risk of contracting HIV/AIDS and death is of great concern to the global community. Emerging campaigns have been successful in raising awareness among the general public, the medical community, and the governing bodies as well as the collective community leaders, specifically the women about the dangers of FGM. Developed nations such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom have granted asylums for those women who fear of being subjected to FGM in their home countries. The Council of Europe passed a Parliamentary Assembly Resolution 1247 on FGM pushing for governments to take legislative action against FGM, to create plans for education and information about the practice itself. The United Nations aims to have eradications in individual villages which will eventually slow its practice in time.