New York - CSW, New York, 28 February 2011

The Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices affecting the Health of Women and Children (IAC), the European network for the prevention and eradication of harmful traditional practice (Euronet-FGM) and the NGO No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ) organised a round-table and Discussion, chaired by the First Lady of Burkina Faso Mrs Chantal Compaoré: "International Campaign for a United Nations General Assembly Resolution to ban FGM worldwide". The Round-table was held on 28 February 2011, 9:00 – 11:00 am, in the Delegates Dining hall United Nations Headquarters.
 
In conjunction with the 55th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, the aim of the round-table and discussion was tol present the BanFGM Campaign and discuss steps forward.
The Breakfast Round-table and Discussion, chaired by the First Lady of Burkina Faso Mrs Chantal Compaoré, brought together African and European activists, representatives of civil society organizations who have been at the forefront of the Campaign since its inception.
 
The event was intended as a moment in which to bring together all interested parties, to provide an overview of the BanFGM Campaign to date and an opportunity for discussion among stockholders for an overview of the strategies to bring the fight against female genital mutilation to the worldwide ban. The session aimed at sharing knowledge and priorities, in which participants had the opportunity to take stock on what to consider getting to a rapid adoption of a UN resolution banning FGM.
 
FGM is one of the most widespread and systematic violations of the universal human right to personal integrity, committed against millions of women and girls worldwide, abusing their physical and psychological and damaging their lives irreversibly. It is an affront to human dignity, a violation of fundamental human rights, and is increasingly being recognised as such by children, women and men around the world.
FGM is considered to be a harmful practice by the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women as well as by the Convention on the Rights of Child, both of which encourage States to take action to eliminate it. 
 
Venue of the event: New York, Delegates Dining hall United Nations Headquarters
Visit the photo gallery of the event
 
For further information and RSVP, please contact Elis Bertazzon ebertazzon@npwj.org or Ilwad Elmi ielmi@npwj.org