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| Arab Countries - Cairo Declaration for the Elimination of FGM, 2003 |
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Legal Instruments 2 of 26
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| Legal tools for the prevention of female genital mutilation. |
WE,
the representatives of twenty-eight African and Arab countries affected
by the practice of Female Genital Mutilation, of international and
non-governmental organisations, and experts on FGM, meeting in Cairo
from the 21st to the 23rd of June 2003 for the Afro-Arab Expert
Consultation on “Legal Tools for the Prevention of Female Genital
Mutilation” on the invitation of AIDOS - Italian Association for Women
in Development - No Peace Without Justice, the Egyptian National
Council for Childhood and
Motherhood, and the Egyptian Society for the Prevention of Harmful
Practices to Woman and Child, under the Auspices of H.E. Mrs Suzanne
Mubarak, First Lady of Egypt, organized within the
framework of the “STOP FGM Campaign” supported by the European Commission:
Emphasising that all countries affected by the practice of FGM have
been represented at the Expert Consultation, making it a unique
opportunity for dialogue, exchange of information and points of view
concerning the best means and the most appropriate legislative
instruments for the prevention and the progressive abandonment of FGM
worldwide;
Recognising and saluting the commitment and determination of H.E. Mrs Suzanne Mubarak, First
Lady of Egypt, as well as Her keynote speech delivered at the opening session of the Expert
Consultation and her specific contribution to the success of this Afro-Arab meeting;
Emphasising in particular the statements of the highest religious
authorities in Egypt, H.E. Sheykh Mohammed Sayed Tantawy, Grand Sheykh
of Al-Azhar, and the representative of H.E. Pope Shenouda III,
Patriarch of Alexandria and of the See of St. Mark, who reaffirmed that
no religious precept either in Islam or Christianity justifies the
practice of FGM;
Thanking the organisers for taking the initiative to convene this Expert Consultation in Cairo and
expressing appreciation in particular to the Egyptian National
Council for Childhood and Motherhood and the Egyptian Society for the
Prevention of Harmful Practices to Woman and Child for the warm welcome
received in Egypt and to ensure the best working conditions for the
meeting;
Thanking the sponsors and other contributors for providing the resources for this Expert Consultation and its follow-up;
Taking note of the results obtained by the working groups, the
quality of the contributions by the speakers and all the participants,
and the most valuable technical contribution by CRR - Centre for
Reproductive Rights - and RAINBO - Research, Action and Information for
the Bodily Integrity of Women - which have made the successful outcome
of the Consultation possible;
Taking note of and supporting the international “STOP FGM” Appeal,
launched on the 10th of December 2002, as well as the Declaration on
“Zero Tolerance for FGM” issued by the IAC - Inter-African Committee -
on the 6th of February 2003, and signed by African First Ladies and a
number of other international personalities... |
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