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.