For those of us who are involved with Human Rights – whether it is our job, or just a cause we support – there is always a tricky question to answer: how far should we go to defend these principles without imposing our values into different cultures and traditions? How much should we respect these so called traditions when we clearly know they are hurting people and denying them of dignity?
I found myself having to answer these questions several times, most recently about female genital mutilation (FGM) and child early and forced marriage (CEFM). As stated by Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General, there is no religious or health reason for continuing FGM, and no real benefits to its victims. Some argue it is a cultural practice aimed at controlling women – especially their sexual and reproductive freedom.
He also states that forcing girls into marriage divorces them from opportunity and undermines the full achievement of 6 of the 8 MDGs. CEFM increases their exposure to violence, abuse, and health problems resulting from early and unwanted pregnancies both for mother and baby (the risk of an infant dying in their first year of life is 60% higher when the mother is under 18).
The UK and UNICEF believe these are clear-cut no situations.
Our Prime Minister will host the first Girl Summit on July 22 in London – UNICEF will co-host. We are looking to have Ministers, specialists, civil society, international organisations and private sector. During the summit, we want to share our best practices, agree on a common statement to end FGM and CEFM within one generation, and hopefully a set of concrete commitments.
A lot of great progress has been done so far. UNICEF points to a reduction of FGM cases and some great examples in the countries with highest FGM rates. It is estimated that since 2008 the joint programme between UNICEF and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has reached around 10 thousand communities in 15 countries, approximately 8 million people, which stopped this practice altogether. Egypt and Guinea-Bissau have adopted laws against FGM and are working very hard to bring aggressors to justice.
However, according to the UN, by 2030 there will still be 86 million girls at risk of suffering FGM and by 2020 142 million girls will be forced into marriage before they are 18. These are the girls we must keep in mind when fighting for this cause.
We can take action to end FGM and CEFM within one generation. The Girl Summit this month is all about giving voice to everyone. You can get involved in many ways: learn more, share information, follow the Summit online and pledge your support.
FGM and CEFM may not be worrying issues in many countries, but they affect the future of gender equality worldwide. These practices are violations of the girls’ Human Rights, which the UK states are universal. We must not lose sight that one girl forced into marriage or mutilated is one too many, and a threat to the rights of all girls. As I said before, there is no separation between foreign and domestic policy. And this is precisely the kind of issue we should all worry about and work together to solve.