"Towards a global ban of FGM": No Peace Without Justice and the government of Burkina Faso organise a high-level meeting to foster transnational political mobilisation in the fight against FGM

Rome-Ouagadougou, 6 November 2009


Press release in Italian, French
 
The Government of Burkina Faso, through the Ministry of Social Action and National Solidarity, and the international NGO No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ), with the support of the Italian Cooperation and in partnership with UNOPS, are organising the High Level Meeting “From Cairo to Ouagadougou: Towards a Global Ban of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)” that will take place under the patronage of H.E. Mrs Chantal Compaoré, First Lady of Burkina Faso, in Ouagadougou on 9-10 November 2009.
 
The Conference, which will be opened by H.E. Mrs Chantal Compaoré, First Lady of Burkina Faso, and by Emma Bonino, Vice-President of the Italian Senate, will bring together key international figures, First Ladies, ministers, parliamentarians and civil society activists from 13 West African countries as well as representatives of international and regional organizations to work towards a global ban on FGM.
 
Positive developments in the fight against FGM have accelerated in recent years thanks to the efforts of anti-FGM activists as well as to the commitment, at the highest level, of certain States. However, the scarcity of effective national legislation is hampering a more coordinated effort to rid the continent of this widespread human rights violation.
 
One year after the “Cairo Declaration on FGM +5” Conference of 14-15 December 2008, aimed at eliminating FGM "by outlawing it once and for all", this meeting provides a renewed opportunity for assessing the progresses achieved and the major challenges encountered during anti-FGM campaigns. Critically, it will also reinforce the opportunities for strengthening and accelerating the global movement towards the prohibition of FGM as a violation of human rights.
 
The First Lady of Burkina Faso, H.E. Mrs Chantal Compaoré, will also use the event to call on her fellow First Ladies of Africa to commit themselves to a continent-wide effort to eliminate FGM. A coalition of Africa’s First Ladies committed to the eradication of FGM would not only give the issue the visibility it deserves, but also provide the leadership required to outlaw the practice once and for all.
 
Program
 
Concept Paper 

  • For more information please contact: Nicola Giovannini, NPWJ Press Officer (email: ngiovannini@npwj.org - phone: + 32 2 548 39 14 - fax: +32-2-511 8100).
  • The Conference Venue is: Ouaga 2000 Conference Centre, 01 BP 1603,  01 Ouagadougou,  Burkina Faso. Simultaneous interpretation will be provided in French and English. The conference will be broadcast live on Radio Radicale.