End female genital mutilation and fully uphold human rights of all women and girls: UN Chief Gutterres

End female genital mutilation and fully uphold human rights of all women and girls: UN Chief Gutterres Follow @merinews

08 February, 2019

In his message for International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, 6 February, UN Chief Antonio Guterres stated, "Female genital mutilation (FGM) is an abhorrent human rights violation affecting women and girls around the world. It denies them their dignity, endangers their health and causes needless pain and suffering, even death."

"On this Day of Zero Tolerance, I call for increased, concerted and global action to end female genital mutilation and fully uphold the human rights of all women and girls," he urged in his message..

"Female genital mutilation is rooted in gender inequalities and power imbalances– and it sustains them by limiting opportunities for girls and women to realize their rights and full potential. An estimated 200 million women and girls alive today have been subject to this harmful practice. And every year, almost 4 million girls are at risk," he added.

He is of the view that 'with strong political commitment, we are seeing positive change in several countries. However, if current trends persist, these advances will continue to be outpaced by rapid population growth where the practice is concentrated.'