Finland Times

 

Finland will contribute euro 300,000 in 2015–2017 to the Joint Programme on Female Genital Mu-tilation/Cutting (FGM/C), implemented by the UN Children's Fund UNICEF and the UN Popula-tion Fund UNFPA. 

 

The joint programme aims to prevent the practice of cutting girls' and women's genitalia, said a government press release.

 

“The promotion of women's and girls' rights is one of the priorities of Finland's development poli-cy,” emphasized Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Lenita Toivakka. 

 

“The programme's beneficiaries include especially women and girls in communities where female genital mutilation is practiced. The programme benefits the entire community, too, because healthy girls and women play a big role in the wellbeing of their families and future children.

 

The programme aims to make genital mutilation an unacceptable practice. It includes national actions in 17 countries in Africa and the Middle East as well as international cooperation.

 

The actions at the national level include the promotion of legislation against the practice of FGM/C and monitoring of the enforcement of existing laws.

 

The programme also supports practical actions, which help in addressing the FGM/C and its conse-quences in sexual and reproductive health services, child protection, prevention of violence against women, and public social protection systems. Communication plays an important role because the decision-makers often believe that FGM/C is accepted by the citizens.

 

Female genital mutilation forms a serious violation against women's and girls' human rights and causes loss of life and lifelong suffering. It is estimated that over 125 million women and girls in the world have suffered genital mutilation or cutting.