I. Press Briefing, Monday 8 February

International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation

What: Press Conference marking the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

Who:                                

  • Nafissatou J. Diop, Senior Adviser & Coordinator of the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on Female Genital Mutilation Cutting
  • Inna Modja, FGM Survivor and singer , France
  • Patricia Tobon, FGM Survivor, Representative of the Embera community, Colombia

Moderator: Ms. Margaret Novicki, Chief, Communications Campaigns Service, UN Department of Public Information

When: Monday 8 February, 10.00 am EST

Where: S-237, UN Headquarters, New York or live through webtv.un.org

Available for interviews:

  • Babatunde Osotimehin, UNFPA Executive Director
  • Nafissatou Diop, Coordinator, UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on FGM/C
  • Keziah Bianca Oseko, Survivor activist, Kenya
  • Patricia Tobon, Representative of the Embera community, Colombia
  • Inna Modja, Survivor and singer, France

Background:

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) refers to all procedures that involve altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons. It is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women, in addition to the threat it constitutes to their health and lives. However, at least 200 million girls and women alive today worldwide have been cut and if the trend continues, some additional 86 million girls worldwide are likely to experience some form of the practice by 2030.

Therefore the elimination of FGM is a key target under Goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals, and this year, the Day is being held under the theme “Mobilizing to Achieve the Global Goals through the Elimination of FGM by 2030.”

UNFPA, jointly with UNICEF, leads the largest global programme to end FGM. The programme currently focuses on 17 African countries and also supports regional and global initiatives.

Media contacts

UN Department of Public Information

Sharon Birch, T: +1(212) 963-0564 | E: birchs@un.org

Melanie Prudhomme, T: +1(917) 367-3541 |E: prudhommem@un.org

 

II. Special Event: Monday 8 February

What: International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation

To mark the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), officially celebrated on 6 February, an event entitled “Mobilizing to achieve the Global Goals through the elimination of FGM by 2030” will take place at UN headquarters on 8 February.  A panel discussion as well as a musical performance and a play will follow a keynote address by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Who:

  • Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General
  • Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
  • Cornelius Williams,  Chief, Child Protection Section, UNICEF
  • Yohana Susana Yambise – Minister, Women’s Empowerment and Child

Protection, Indonesia

  • Keziah Bianca Oseko, a FGM survivor activist, Kenya
  • Patricia Tobon, a representative of the Embera community, Colombia
  • Inna Modja, a FGM survivor and a singer, France

What: “Mobilizing to achieve the Global Goals through the elimination of FGM by 2030”

When: Monday 8 February, 11.00 am to 1.00 pm EST

Where:         ECOSOC Chamber, UN Headquarters, New York or live through http://webtv.un.org

For more information, please visit website: www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment or follow us on Twitter at @GlobalGoalsUN and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/globalgoalsUN.