This free event will bring together participants, including University researchers, who have a shared interest in understanding and exploring FGM in greater depth for the purpose of acting to end it.
The University of Portsmouth and Portsmouth City of Sanctuary are hosting an event to mark International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) on Tuesday 6 February.
Widely recognised as a violation of human rights, FGM refers to ‘all procedures involving partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons’.
Children’s charity UNICEF estimates that at least 200 million girls and women in the 30 countries in which the practice is most prevalent have undergone FGM and that as many as 3 million girls under the age of 15 are at risk of FGM every year.
This free event will bring together participants, including researchers from the University’s Centre for the Advancement of Equality, Gender and Inclusion Studies (AEGIS), who have a shared interest in understanding and exploring FGM in greater depth for the purpose of acting to end it.
As global prevalence figures reveal FGM remains a reality in lives of girls and women across the globe. Rates of FGM are increasing, a reflection of global population growth.
This event will reflect on why FGM remains so engrained in the culture and traditions of so many communities despite its categorisation as a form of violent child abuse by UNICEF and more and more countries passing legislation to ban it.
AEGIS members David Alemna and Dr Patience Mutunami will be participating in a Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation event on the same day and as part of their role supporting the Girl Generation programme.
Tamsin Bradley, Professor of International Development Studies from the Centre for the Advancement of Equality, Gender and Inclusion Studies, said: “As global prevalence figures reveal FGM remains a reality in lives of girls and women across the globe. Rates of FGM are increasing, a reflection of global population growth.
“Girls and women who have undergone FGM live predominately in sub-Saharan Africa and the Arab States, but FGM is also practised in select countries in Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. It is also practised among migrant populations throughout Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand.
“The extent to which FGM is taking place in the UK is much less known especially given the criminalisation of the practice, but we know girls are still at risk. This event will reflect on why FGM remains so engrained in the culture and traditions of so many communities despite its categorisation as a form of violent child abuse by UNICEF and more and more countries passing legislation to ban it.”
The free event takes place from 10am to 1pm in Portsmouth City Library. Tickets must be booked in advance.
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