Item 12(a)--- Violence against Women

Violence against women is a reflection of a value system, which upholds and maintains the patriarchal power structure within which women are subjugated and abused at a monumental scale. Millions are raped, cultured mutilated. Sold for sexual exploitation and constantly abused.

This state of affairs, although a longstanding reality is gradually emerging as violation of human rights and thus a concern of the international community.

The reports of the Special Rapporteurs on Violence Against Women that of Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy and that of Mrs. H. Warzazi on Traditional Practices demonstrate amply the universality and pervasive nature of the violence against women. They also highlight the important evolution in progress in the community to eradicate these problems.

The ICPD and the Beijing Platform for Action state clearly the urgent need to free women from all forms of discrimination. The adoption of the optional protocol by the Commission on the Status of women is another milestone for women to bring their cases to the international forum.

My Organization welcomes these positive developments. The Inter-African Committee (IAC) has been dealing with the problem of Harmful Traditional Practices (HTPs) for the past 15 years.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) as a customary practice remains a harsh reality of the lives of millions of girls and women. In my country, Nigeria, FGM affects 40.5% of women. In addition early marriage, widowhood rites, nutritional taboos are practiced. In view of the multiple implications of these practices, the Inter-African Committee has adopted a multi-pronged approach in its eradication strategies.

At the grassroots level education and information are emphasized as effective programmes of intervention. Thus, youth groups, opinion leaders, social workers, women leaders are reached through carefully tailored informal gathering sessions, training, workshops, seminars and some general activities. For target groups such as legislators and religious leaders, symposium and conferences are organized.

Last year my organization held a symposium for religious leaders to clarify the religious misconceptions surrounding the practices of FGM.

The participants who represented 15 countries were unanimous in the rejection and condemnation of FGM. These have broken the ground for enhancing the campaign.

Negotiations are in process with the OAU to strengthen the Addis Ababa Declaration on Violence Against Women which was adopted at the Symposium for Legislators in September 1997 organized by the IAC & OAU. The Addis Ababa Declaration was adopted by the African Heads of State and Government at their meeting in 1998 in Burkina Faso.

At the international level the NGOs such as members of the Working Groups on Traditional Practices and IAC have lobbied in Copenhagen in 1980, Nairobi, Vienna, Cairo, Beijing, Geneva and New York to draw the attention of the UN bodies and delegates to the issue of Harmful Traditional Practices (HTPs).

The process needed constancy and perseverance but what has been achieved shows an encouraging trend. FGM is openly challenged and debated. Governments like Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Ghana, Guinea, Senegal, Tanzania and Togo, have adopted legislative measures to fight against FGM.

We welcome this commitment hoping that the campaign of Education and Information will be enhanced by serious government support. We also recognize the work being accomplished by WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA in this domain and invite them to strengthen their work in partnership with the civil society.

We also appreciate the report of the UN Secretary General A/53/54 of September 1998 on traditional and customary practices affecting the health of women.

The report shows the extent of the problem and the progress made in tackling it. The conclusion proposed merit serious attention by governments, UN bodies and NGOs for implementation.

Mme Chair, legislation can be a backing for prevention and eventual eradication. However, the law alone cannot serve as an effective means to change social attitudes.

At present we hear of immigrant families being condemned in France and the European countries for practicing FGM. While we recognize the value of child protection and the application of the law of the land, it is also our hope that the immigrants will be sufficiently informed on their arrival about their status and all the implications of some of their customary practices.

A holistic approach to the fight against FGM is more productive and effective than singling out from the overall life condition of the immigrants.

Sensationalizing the problem will only create alienation.