A/HRC/27/36 networks to address the practice. Regional research into the effects of campaigns and other initiatives against female genital mutilation was needed. Panellists also proposed that synergies should be established between international and regional organizations to ensure better support for field programmes and to strengthen advocacy, as well as to ensure international support for long-term planning and strategies. It was also recommended that the issue should remain on the political and development agenda, including the post-2015 development agenda, and that the international community should adequately address the needs of the millions of women and girls with new and chronic medical conditions as a consequence of female genital mutilation. Working towards ending the medicalization of the procedure was also recommended. A call was also made for relevant human rights treaty bodies to integrate female genital mutilation into their concluding observations and recommendations to State parties and for the issue to remain on the agenda of the Human Rights Council. 24. The role played by civil society and non-governmental organizations was deemed to be critical. One panellist highlighted the results of an external assessment conducted in 2013 of the 15 countries supported by the UNFPA/UNICEF Joint Programme. National policy and legislation had been adopted in 12 out of the 15 countries, and civil society and community-led interventions had led to public commitments to abandon the practice. Clear changes had taken place in the 15 countries with the support of the Programme. Lastly, panellists expressed their confidence that further progress would be made. 8