A/HRC/29/20
skills, self-awareness, family relationships, sexuality, coping with adolescence, sexually
transmitted infections, HIV/AIDS and gender-based violence. The Young Women’s
Christian Association of Kenya implements an alternative rites of passage seminar for girls
at risk. Teachers and parents identify girls, who are taught a series of modules based on a
training manual covering sexual and reproductive health education, female genital
mutilation awareness, myths around the practice, legal implications and children’s rights
and protection from it.
41.
In the United Republic of Tanzania, OHCHR supported a UNFPA-led special event
where over 1,000 children chose an alternative rite of passage over mutilation. The
alternative rite of passage involved a one-month training course on human rights,
reproductive health and the culture of their local community, which concluded with a
graduation ceremony. Similar alternative rites of passage activities have been conducted in
the Gambia.
H.
Cross-border, regional and international cooperation initiatives
42.
Efforts at the regional and international levels aim at promoting awareness and
information-sharing on female genital mutilation. Countries of origin and migrant
communities in destination countries are increasingly forming partnerships and engaging in
coordinated approaches to prevent the practice.
43.
Togo is currently developing cross-border programmes to combat female genital
mutilation with neighbouring countries. Similarly, since 2011, Burkina Faso and Mali have
collaborated in a joint project on preventing its cross-border practise.
I.
Protection and support services
44.
Girls and women who have undergone female genital mutilation need quality health
care and psychosocial and sexual care. Eritrea, Mauritania, Kenya, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia,
Mali, Somalia and Uganda have all strengthened the capacity of health personnel to address
the practice and its consequences. In Ethiopia, health workers are operating outside the
clinical setting and offering support to schools, women’s groups and faith networks.
45.
In Finland, the National Institute of Health and Welfare raises awareness and
provides information on female genital mutilation in maternity and child health clinics,
hospitals and health centres; and schools and student health centres. In September 2014,
University College Hospital in London opened its first specialist clinic for child victims of
female genital mutilation, offering medical treatment and psychological help to girls up to
18 years of age who have suffered or may be at risk of the practice. Somalia has integrated
female genital mutilation-related issues in its midwifery training curriculum in its South
Central, Puntland and Somaliland regions, including in antenatal care, neonatal care and
immunization services. Similarly, Burkina Faso has integrated the practice into
reproductive health programmes and set up a specialist clinic to address the complications
of female genital mutilation.
46.
The World Health Organization is updating clinical guidelines for health providers
to support evidence-based care. In Ethiopia, the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital is dedicated
exclusively to providing free obstetric fistula repair surgery to women, and a community
called Desda Mender is dedicated to the lifelong support of women whose fistulae are
irreparable.20 Specialized clinics for victims of female genital mutilation have also been
20
12
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