Ireland: New Irish Funds to Combat Female Genital Mutilation

The Irish Family Planning Association has praised new Irish funding aimed at ending the incidence of female genital mutilation in the developing world.

Commenting to mark the International Day Against Female Genital Mutilation, the IFPA congratulated Irish Aid on the announcement of funding of 500,000 Euros towards a project aimed at stopping FGM and providing support to victims.

Irish Aid is the Government programme of assistance to developing countries and the funding is being allocated to a joint UNFPA/UNICEF project.

However, Ms Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director, UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, called for stronger international commitment to end FGM.

“We call on governments to protect the rights of women and girls. We call on leaders to take action to end female genital mutilation in line with the United Nations resolution adopted last year.

“In the resolution, governments reiterated that female genital mutilation violates the rights of women and girls. They said the practice constitutes an irreparable, irreversible abuse,” she said.

An estimated 100 million to 140 million women and girls worldwide have undergone the practice and three million more girls are at risk each year, according to campaigners.

Source: Irish Medical News – 15 February 2008