It is an issue that demands a collaborative approach involving human rights activists, educationalists, health professionals, religious leaders, development workers and many others. From a human rights perspective, FGM cannot be viewed in isolation from other forms of violence and discrimination against women, from the vulnerability of children to abuse, and from issues of access to education and economic development. Involving religious leaders in raising awareness that FGM is not a religious requirement has been crucial to the success of some initiatives. The cultural significance of FGM cannot be ignored. Eradicating the practice must be presented as a question not of eliminating rites of passage, but of redefining or replacing those rites in a way that promotes positive traditional values while removing the danger of physical and psychological harm.
Global action is necessary if the practice is to be eradicated promptly.
While internationally agreed human rights standards provide a basis and justification for international intervention, those best placed to set the direction of the campaign are the grassroots activists and community workers with a presence in the areas where FGM is practised. The role of international solidarity is to complement and support the work carried out locally by providing technical, methodological and financial support, and undertaking international advocacy and lobbying. A global action against FGM cannot undertake to abolish this one violation of women s rights without placing it firmly within the context of efforts to address the social and economic injustice women face the world over. If women are to be considered as equal and responsible members of society, no aspect of their physical, psychological, or sexual integrity can be compromised. But while many actors have a role to play in eradicating FGM, governments have it within their power to determine whether eradication will be achieved within a generation, or whether millions more girls will pay the price of their inaction.