Side-Event at the 56th session of the Human Rights Council Effective Strategies to Address Cross-Border and Transnational Female Genital Mutilation

Time: 3rd July, 2024 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Location: Room XXII, Palais des Nations, Geneva

The Human Rights Council Resolution 50/16 on “Elimination of female genital mutilation”, adopted by the HRC in July 2022 recognized that female genital mutilation constitutes a grave human rights violation and a form of extreme violence against women and girls. The Council expressed its concern that the harmful practice of female genital mutilation persists in all parts of the world, where armed conflicts, pandemics and other crises and humanitarian situations exacerbate pre-existing human rights violations or abuses and inequalities and lead to population movements, including migration, forced displacement and asylum seeking, which have implications for cases of cross-border and transnational female genital mutilation.

Cross-border and transnational female genital mutilation was identified as a challenge that needs to be add ressed to eliminate this harmful practice and extreme form of gender-based violence against women and girls. Despite its critical nature, cross-border and transnational female genital mutilation are still poorly documented. Gaps in national and regional legal frameworks, lack of systematic and coordinated co-operation and insufficient resources are amongst some of the
challenges.

At the request of the Human Rights Council, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) submits a report on cross-border and transnational female genital mutilation, at the 56th session. OHCHR, the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the elimination of female genital mutilation, Equality Now and the Permanent Mission of Burkina Faso are organizing a side event to raise awareness on cross-border and transnational female genital mutilation and provide a platform of discussion to various stakeholders, including States, UN agencies, civil society organizations and survivors.

Programme:
Moderator: Divya Srinivasan, Global Lead, End Harmful Practices, Equality Now

• Opening remarks by H.E. Ambassador Nadine Traore Bazie, Chargée d'affaires, Permanent Mission of Burkina Faso
• Hannah Wu, OHCHR to present the findings of the report on cross-border and transnational female genital mutilation
• Julia Bunting, UNFPA to present the work of the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the elimination of female genital mutilation
• H.E. Dr. Isatou Touray, Former Vice President of The Gambia and Executive Director of Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (GAMCOTRAP) to highlight cross-border female genital mutilation
• Mariya Taher, Survivor and Executive Director of Sahiyo, U.S., to highlight the issue of transnational female genital mutilation