IPU - The IPU President expressed satisfaction that several countries had adopted legislation in the recent years to fight female genital mutilation, while others took court action to enforce existing legislation. "But punishment is not sufficient. It is important to change mentalities and work for better development. In that respect, the declaration (fatwa) issued in November 2006 by Al-Azhar University in Cairo, the most authoritative source on religion in the Islamic world, is an important step forward in the fight against female genital mutilation".

For Dr. Gamal Serour, Director of the Islamic Centre for Population Research and Studies at Al-Azhar University, “female genital mutilation has no religious basis in either the Koran or the authentic Hadiths, the sayings of the Prophet Mohammed. Science has shown that it results in complications to children’s health and lowers the quality of their lives. It is therefore forbidden and should not be practised by either traditional practitioners or paramedical staff".

According to Dr. Serour, it will take decades to eradicate female genital mutilation, because the practice is deeply ingrained in the culture of certain nations, particularly in Africa and Asia. “We have to convince all the people, men and women, that this traditional practice has no benefits whatsoever. This is why it is very important to work closely with religious and traditional leaders, and with the chairpersons of the ethics committees of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO). FIGO has published its recommendations, which are addressed to professional and religious leaders, and to members of parliaments".

In December 2005, the African Parliamentary Union (APU) and the National Assembly of Senegal, in cooperation with the IPU and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), organized a regional conference in Senegal at which legislators from African countries and countries receiving African migrants pledged to stop this traditional practice.

According to UNICEF’ statistics, on average one girl or young woman is subjected to female genital mutilation, which causes excruciating pain, every 15 seconds. More than 100 million women and girls have undergone excision, infibulation or some other form of genital mutilation, not only in Africa, but also in countries receiving African migrants.

Contacts: Mrs. Luisa Ballin, IPU Information Officer. Tel.: +41 22 919 41 16 / 50 / 27 , e-mail: lb@mail.ipu.org or cbl@mail.ipu.org.

Mrs. Kareen Jabre, Programme Manager, IPU Programme for the Promotion of Partnership between Men and Women. Tel. +41 22 919 41 25; e-mail: kj@mail.ipu.org.