Embassy of Ireland's Statement on Zero Tolerance on FGM Day, 2017
The Embassy of Ireland joins the Forum Against Harmful Traditional Practices to mark International Day of Zero Tolerance on FGM Day in Sierra Leone.
Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) is a human rights issue that affects girls and women worldwide. In 2012, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a milestone resolution calling on the international community to intensify efforts to end the practice. More recently, in September 2015, the global community agreed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - which includes a target under Goal 5 to eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and FGM/C by the year 2030. Both the UN Resolution and the SDG framework signify the political will of the international community and national partners to work together to accelerate action towards a total, and final, end to the practice in all continents of the world.
Women and girls' protection and empowerment are the focus of Irish Aid's work in Sierra Leone. Ending the practice of FGM is one of our policy priorities. The practice of FGM is prevalent in Sierra Leone with 89.6% of women and girls in Sierra Leone having undergone FGM. The practice of FGM in Sierra Leone is linked to other harmful traditional practices such as early marriage and teenage pregnancy. These hinder educational attainment, socio-economic development and contribute to high maternal mortality, preventing women and girls from achieving their full potential.
The importance of political commitment, national and local capacity strengthening and the need to mobilise and partner with a variety of stakeholders at all levels are relevant for addressing FGM and other harmful traditional practices affecting women and girls. We need to support activities that address the underlying social norms that perpetuate FGM and capacity-building efforts among enforcement authorities with adequate mechanisms and legislation that is enforced. These need to be backed by community-based initiatives and empowerment programmes for women and girls.
The Embassy of Ireland commends the Government of Sierra Leone for its commitments to international treaties that address FGM. It took a first step by developing the FGM strategy for girls under age of 18 years, in partnership with national stakeholders, INGOs, UN agencies and bilateral partners. We urge the government to now launch the FGM Strategy so that women and girls in the country can be protected from FGM and enjoy their human rights affirming their right to physical integrity and freedom from gender based discrimination.
We recognise that launching the FGM Strategy alone will not lead to total abandonment but that it will complement other reform strategies and create an enabling environment for women and girls protection, empowerment and equality/ As part of the Embassy's commitment towards Government efforts in promoting women and girls empowerment and gender equality, we continue to support national and local institutions and initiatives in addressing FGM in Sierra Leone.
Thank you.