There Is No Limit Foundation, Kota Alliance, and MALA will host an event on September 19, 2019 on the sidelines of the 74th United Nations General Assembly titled “Eradicate FGM/C”.
This event will discuss and concentrate on successful eradication examples of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). It will also highlight the commitment made worldwide to end the practice under SDG 5 – Achieve Gender Equality and Empower All Women and Girls.
There Is No Limit Foundation, Kota Alliance and MALA have three objectives for the event:
1. To mobilize stakeholders towards the achievement of target 5.3, the elimination of FGM
2. To share best practices on how stakeholders are implementing their commitments towards ending FGM
3. To showcase synergies between eliminating FGM and reaching other SDGs including no poverty (SDG 1), good health and well-being (SDG 3), quality education (SDG 4), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), and reduced inequality (SDG 10)
Panelists:
Natasha R. Johnson
DR. Deborah Ottenheimer
Mariama Diallo
Background:
In 2016, There Is No Limit Foundation piloted the Break the Silence campaign series to mobilize people worldwide to speak up and take action to end harmful practices and violence against individuals. Female genital mutilation is the first campaign under this banner. There Is No Limit Foundation uses the power of youth to raise awareness about the practice and engage stakeholders in discussions about the consequences of FGM, and alternatives such as sexual education.
The Kota Alliance is a New York based nonprofit organization for gender equality and women’s empowerment. It advocates for SDG#5 and collaborates with and supports other organizations working towards the same goals.
MALA is a 501 (c)3 committed to promoting Muslim American heritage. MALA is defined by an existential concern for the well-being of all communities in America, and especially of children. Accordingly, we see it as our duty to join the effort to end FGM, and to help build strong and accommodating networks of support and intervention for those affected or at risk. For three consecutive years, MALA has led the conversation on FGM in the United States at the UN Commission on the Status of Women. MALA is an NGO in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council since 2019.
Female genital mutilation is one of the greatest threats to the health, well-being and economic prosperity of women and girls worldwide. This practice was included for the first time in the United Nations set of goals in 2016. It was listed under SDG 5, Target 5.3 Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation.
About SDG 5:
The United Nations estimates that over 200 million women and girls throughout the world have undergone FGM in Africa, Middle East, Asia, Latin America, Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand. Sustainable Development Goal 5 calls on countries to Achieve Gender Equality and Empower All Women and Girls. Within this goal, three of the targets relate to Female Genital Mutilation, calling on governments to:
1. Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
2. Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation.
3. Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Program of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences.