On Thursday, February 16, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton hosted and delivered remarks at an event commemorating the Ninth Anniversary of the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) at the Department of State.

Following the Secretary, Representative Joe Crowley (NY-07) also delivered remarks. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues Melanne Verveer moderated then a panel discussion with leading experts and activists dedicated to the global effort to eradicate FGM/C and to raise awareness of its negative consequences on women, girls, families, and societies. The discussion highlighted the importance of fostering community-based approaches and engaging religious leaders and the Diaspora community to encourage abandonment of this harmful traditional practice.

 

Panelists: Geeta Rao-Gupta, Deputy Executive Director, UNICEF; Molly Melching, Founder and Director of the nongovernmental organization Tostan; Imam Mohamed Magid, President of the Islamic Society of North America; Thomas von der Osten-Sacken, General Manager of the German nongovernmental organization Association for Crisis Assistance and Development Co-operation (WADI);Nafissatou J. Diop Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and United Nations International Children’s Fund Joint Programme on FGM/C; and Zeinab Eyega, Executive Director of the Sauti Yetu Center for African Women.

 

You can watch the entire video here: