Press Release
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The Egyptian Coalition for Human Rights and Development emphasizes that “Female Genital Mutilation” without medical need constitutes a flagrant violation of the rights of girls to health, Security, and physical integrity, as well as is a form of gender-based violence. So, the Egyptian Coalition calls for stopping these practices all over the world.
On (20) December 2012, The UN General Assembly adopted Resolution no. (67/146), which called for the celebration of (6) February as the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, promoting awareness-raising campaigns and concreting actions to end this practice.
The Egyptian Coalition affirms that such unjustified practices have many negative impacts on girls physically and mentally. Therefore, to promote the elimination of Female Genital Mutilation, there is a need for coordinated and organized efforts that involve entire communities and focus on community dialogues and empowering local communities to eliminate these awful practices. Moreover, we should discuss the mental and reproductive health needs of “Women” and “Girls” who are exposed to the consequences of this practice, besides intensifying the global efforts to combat Female Genital Mutilation, which represents a gross violation of Human Rights.
In addition, the Egyptian Coalition praises the Egyptian efforts to eliminate these practices, starting with the issuance of Ministerial Resolution No. (271) of (2007) to prohibit the conduct of female circumcision, by adding Article (242) bis of the “Penal Code” added to the Child Law No. (126) of (2008). Also, in (2003) a national program was developed to combat female genital mutilation adopted by the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, then the objectives of the program were expanded to become the “National Program for Family Empowerment and Combating Female Genital Mutilation” and during the period from (2003) to (2011). Moreover, in (2016) the penalty was increased under Law No. (78), and the National Strategy against Female Genital Mutilation (2016-2020) was issued, which aims to reduce the rates of female circumcision by activating and enforcing the law and ministerial decisions to prevent female circumcision and punish its practitioners.
