The Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practice (IAC), with its national committees in 28 African countries, 17 affiliates outside of Africa and partners around the world will on February 6, 2010 celebrate the seventh anniversary of the International Day on Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

Below is the full text of the press release.
The Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practice (IAC), with its national committees in 28 African countries, 17 Affiliates outside of Africa and partners around the world will celebrate the seventh anniversary on the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) on February 6, 2010.
Zero Tolerance to FGM means that FGM should not be tolerated for any reason, no matter the type, who is doing it, on whom and place where done.
The theme for February 6, 2010 celebration is: “The role of men and boys in the eradication of FGM”.

February 6 was unanimously adopted at the International Conference on Zero Tolerance to FGM by IAC from February 4 to 6, 2003 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Representatives at the conference came from 49 countries including 4 first ladies (from Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Guinea Conakry and Mali), ministers, parliamentarians, religious, community and youth leaders. Several governments and organizations, including the UN Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in August 2003, have adopted February 6 as the International Day on Zero Tolerance to FGM.

The objective to celebrating February 6 is to call international, regional national and community attention to the efforts needed to free women and girls from the adverse tradition of female genital mutilation and to accelerate action towards its elimination. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a violation of human rights principles, as stipulated in Article 24.3 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), other international and regional instruments, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights Relating to the Rights of Women in Africa, (Article 5) and the African Union Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa, 2004.

The Millennium Development goals advocate the promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women, reduction of child mortality and improvement of maternal health. Female genital mutilation compromises the attainment of those goals. By a conservative estimate, about 2 million women and girls are subjected to FGM worldwide annually. Female Genital Mutilation refers to any practice that involves the partial or total removal or alteration of the external female genital organs for non-medical reasons.

The consequences of FGM cover a wide range of health issues among which are increased risks in maternal and reproductive health, child-birth complications, difficulties in menstruation and urinating risk of contracting tetanus, infertility, HIV-AIDS and mental health issues. FGM has been recognized as violence against women and girls and coupled with other medical, social, psycho-sexual and economic consequences; the practice should not be allowed to continue under the guise of tradition or religion.

February 6, 2010 is double celebration as the day also marks the 25th anniversary of IAC, which was inaugurated on February 6, 1984 in Dakar, Senegal.
The outlined activities by ICA, its national committees and affiliates include street rallies, panel discussions, seminars, conferences, press briefing, radio documentary, phone-in, radio sports, exhibition and film show among others.