U.S. has reaffirmed its commitment to ending the painful process of female genital mutilation that has been widely considered as an affront to women's equality, rights and dignity.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made the pledge during the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting which was observed globally on Monday.
“As we commemorate International Day of Zero Tolerance and remember those who have been harmed, we reaffirm our commitment to overturning deeply entrenched social norms and abolishing this practice,” a State Department release quoted Clinton as saying.
“All women and girls, no matter where they are born or what culture they are raised in, deserve the opportunity to realise their potential, she said.
It is estimated that 100 million to 140 million women around the world have undergone this brutal procedure and three million girls are at risk every year, Clinton said.
“No religion mandates the procedure, though it occurs across cultures, religions, and continents, including Africa”.
“FGM/C became a federal crime in the U.S. in 1997, but the procedure persists in some communities.
“The U.S. Government is working with practitioners in the health and legal community to educate groups about the negative consequences of FGM/C,'' she said.
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