UNIS/SGSM/1380
6 February 2024
Female genital mutilation is an egregious violation of fundamental human rights that causes lifelong harm to the physical and mental health of women and girls.
In 2024, some 4.4 million girls are at risk of suffering from this horrific act of gender-based violence. Even one mutilation is one too many.
We need decisive action to tackle the social, economic and political norms that perpetuate discrimination against women and girls, limit their participation and leadership, and restrict their access to education and employment.
That starts with challenging the patriarchal power structures and attitudes at the root of this abhorrent practice.
We need urgent investments to reach the target set in the Sustainable Development Goals of eliminating female genital mutilation by 2030.
And we need to amplify the voices of survivors and support their efforts to reclaim their lives, based on their bodily autonomy.
On the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation and every day, let’s redouble our efforts and investments to uphold the rights of women and girls, and put a decisive end to female genital mutilation once and for all.
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"On this International Day of Epidemic Preparedness, I call on countries to heed the lessons of past health emergencies to help prepare for the next." — António Guterres
The new Permanent Representative of Ghana to the United Nations (Vienna), Matilda Aku Alomatu Osei-Agyeman, presented her credentials today to the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), Ghada Waly.
The new Permanent Representative of New Zealand to the United Nations (Vienna), Andrew Williams, presented his credentials today to the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), Ghada Waly.
The new Permanent Representative of Armenia to the United Nations (Vienna), Andranik Hovhannisyan, presented his credentials today to the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), Ghada Waly.
