Egypt has moved to completely eliminate within its borders the traditional practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) and cutting. Official steps to accelerate the process included a ministerial decree and an anti-FGM statement by the country's top Muslim institution. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) hailed these steps as significant and voiced its support for all institutions working toward such social progress in the region.

Volunteer Mona Omar used a poster to warn her audience about the medical risks of FGM' Photo/ UNICEF Egypt, Pirozzi, 2005

In July 2007, UNICEF authorities in Cairo reported that the Health and Population Minister of Egypt issued a decree that fully criminalizes female genital mutilation, closing a previous legal loophole, which allowed health professionals and others to undertake the practice in both governmental and non-governmental hospitals. Al-Azhar Supreme Council of Islamic Research, the highest religious authority in the country, issued a statement saying that FGM and cutting are harmful, have no basis in core Islamic law and should not be practiced.

These and other measures were initiated following the FGM-related death of a 12-year-old girl in June. The First Lady of Egypt, Suzanne Mubarak, dedicated a minute of silence for this FGM victim during the Third Regional Conference on Violence against Children, held also in June, and announced the launch of a national campaign aimed at creating awareness regarding the harmful practice and accelerating efforts to legally ban it Mrs. Mubarak also announced the amendment of the Child Law 1996, banning FGM and addressing other child rights issues.

Sheikh Hassan addressed the awareness-raising meeting Photo UNICEF Egypt, Pirozzi, 2005

UNICEF has been active in promoting education and awareness regarding the harmful nature of FGM and cutting in Egypt, under the leadership of the National Council of Childhood and Motherhood, since 2003. The UNICEF representative in the country, Dr. Erma Manoncourt, stated that UNICEF would fully support the National Council, the Ministry of Health and Population and all partners "to help fully implement the strengthened law and educate people on its meaning". She added that "the law could serve as the mechanism for members of communities to report violators and bring a quick end to this extremely harmful practice".

UNICEF has estimated that 3 million girls and women are subjected to FGM and cutting every year in Africa, including Egypt. The practice is an explicit violation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was adopted in 1989. According to the 2005 Egypt Demographic and Health Survey, majority of FGM procedures in the country have been performed by trained medical personnel. A key element of UNICEF efforts has been to assist the Government of Egypt in institutionalizing and implementing policies and strategies to eliminate the dangerous practice.