Female mutilation: African Group presents UN resolution

A women's community meeting to eradicate the practice of FGM The 54-member African Group of nations yesterday submitted a draft UN resolution against female genital mutilation, Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi said on Thursday at a Senate conference organized by the Italian Association for Women in Development (AIDOS) and Amnesty International. ''The draft resolution was tabled yesterday evening,'' said Terzi.
Daniela Colombo, who is the president of AIDOS, said the resolution might be approved by the end of the year. While recognizing the role of various Italian administrations over the years, she also called on the government to ''impose human rights conditions on countries receiving international aid, especially in terms of women's rights.'' The joint work of many countries over many years is behind this resolution, of which Italy is the European coordinator at the UN, Terzi said.
''Since 2004, we have organized an infinity of meetings on the issue of female genital mutilation, which has been tabled at every bilateral meeting with African countries. The problem is not far from Italy. It happens here, to African immigrant women,'' the minister explained.
Italy in 2006 passed what is the most progressive law on this issue worldwide, and has financed several international campaigns to raise awareness of this practice. The fact that this resolution has been brought to the UN is ''an unprecedented step forward,'' according to Italy's Radical Party and the No Justice No Peace NGO, who laid the merit for this feat squarely at the feet of those who most deserve it: ''The Arab and African women militants who campaigned to have female genital mutilation banned, and who over the past two decades have never thrown in the towel.'' (ANSAmed).