UN Calls for Ban on Female Circumcision

Female genitalia mutilation has affected 140M women

The United Nations General Assembly has called for a global ban on female genital mutilation (FGM). Although not legally binding, the UN's resolutions carry considerable political weight. This resolution urges the 193 U.N. member states to condemn the practice, to launch educational campaigns to eliminate it, and urges all countries to enact and enforce legislation to prohibit FGM.  "This an important moment for...most particularly all the girls and women who have been affected by this grotesque practice," said José Luis Díaz, U.N. representative. The circumcision is often done to reinforce traditional beliefs about what is considered proper sexual behavior, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Many communities believe the process reduces a woman's libido and therefore reduces the chances of her engaging in premarital or extramarital sex. WHO estimates that about 140 million girls and women worldwide are living with the consequences of FGM. (NBC)

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