3 Mins Read
ADNews-Monrovia: Female genital mutilation (FGM) has been Characterized as a horrific act of Gender-Based Violence(GBV) that has affected More than 230 million girls across the globe.
Commemorating the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation under the theme ‘Her Voice, Her Future: Let’s Act Now by Ending FGM and Preserving Our Heritage’.
UN Women Liberia Country Representative, Ms. Comfort Lamptey reassured the UN’s full commitment to working with traditional leaders and stakeholders to end FGM and pass the anti-FGM act into law.
Ms. Lamptey disclosed that this harmful practice continues to negatively impact the health, well-being, and future of women and girls in Liberia.
She also took the opportunity to read a message on behalf of UN Secretary-General António Guterres. In his message, the Secretary-General described FGM as a “horrific act of gender-based violence” that impacts more than 230 million women and girls worldwide. He stated that FGM is one of the most brutal forms of gender inequality, inflicting lifelong physical and mental harm, and violating the basic rights of women and girls to bodily autonomy, safety, and dignity.
Secretary-General Guterres emphasized that while progress has been made, there is an urgent need to accelerate efforts to eliminate FGM by 2030. He called for a global movement to dismantle harmful attitudes, beliefs, and gender stereotypes, and to build stronger partnerships between governments, grassroots organizations, and survivors.
The event which took place at the Invincible Park in Monrovia on Thursday, February 6, 2025 was initiated by UN Women Liberia, Ministry of Gender, Children & Social Protection, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and graced by Traditional Leaders, Civil Society, Members of the Legislature, and Members of the Diplomatic Corps among orders.
Below is the full message from the UN Secretary-General read by Ms. Comfort Lamptey
Female genital mutilation is a horrific act of gender-based violence. More than 230 million girls and women alive today are survivors of this abhorrent practice.
As one of the most brutal manifestations of gender inequality, female genital mutilation inflicts profound, lifelong physical and mental harm, carries life-threatening health risks, and violates the rights of women and girls to bodily autonomy, safety, and dignity.
Eradicating this vicious human rights violation is urgent, and it is possible.
As this year’s theme reminds us, we are making progress, but we must pick up the pace. We must strengthen global movements to break down harmful attitudes, beliefs and gender stereotypes. And we need to bolster strong partnerships between Governments, grassroots organizations and survivors to supercharge efforts and eliminate this scourge by 2030.
The Pact for the Future, agreed at the United Nations last September, includes a commitment by Member States to eliminate female genital mutilation by tackling negative social norms and gender discrimination.
Let’s join forces to make female genital mutilation history and ensure a brighter, healthier, and more just future for all women and girls everywhere.
Comments are closed.