Norwegian Church Aid - Norway
Website: http://http://www.nca.no
25th November is UN International day to Eliminate Violence Against Women and marks the opening of this year's 16 Days of Activism, an international campaign originating from the first Women's Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Center for Women's Global Leadership in 1991. To coincide with this year's campaign, Norwegian Church Aid's Secretary General Atle Sommerfeldt is calling for religious leaders around the world to speak out against female genital mutilation and declare zero tolerance for its practice around the world.

More than 5000 girls and women undergo female genital mutilation every day. The procedure is not only a gross violation of human rights and personal integrity; it is also extremely dangerous to health and adds pain and suffering to the lives of many girls and women who are already the victims of discrimination and abuse.

"Female genital mutilation is widespread in most of the Eastern and Western African countries where Norwegian Church Aid is active. As a humanitarian organisation we cannot close our eyes to the fact that girls and women suffer elementary rights violations in their own homes," says Sommerfeldt.

In many countries religion is used to legitimate this harmful traditional practice. Yet neither Christianity nor Islam prescribes such a procedure. "Religious leaders can therefore play an important role in the effort to eliminate this violent practice, which causes tremendous suffering for girls and women," Sommerfeldt continues.

As part of their ongoing prioritisation of gender-based violence as an active working area, and to coincide with this year's International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women, Norwegian Church Aid have this week published a booklet entitled "Female Genital Mutilation - Understanding The Issues" by Elin Finnseth Sæverås. After completing studies in both Norway and the USA , Ms Sæverås was NCA's regional gender advisor in East Africa 1999 - 2003.

The publication, which aims to raise awareness and deepen understanding, addresses female genital mutilation from the perspective of human rights and development. It highlights relations between gender, culture and religion with regards to this practice and gives a detailed explanation of not only the ritual itself but also its origins and the beliefs that often cloud the facts about what is in reality a most serious assault on human dignity.

The booklet sets out the challenges involved in tackling this issue and suggests an agenda for continued efforts based on the experiences of Norwegian Church Aid and its partner organisations, gathered over the past four years through 20 projects in eight African countries. It is written as a tribute to the many women - and increasing numbers of men - who have taken up the struggle to end the practice of female genital mutilation.

As Atle Sommerfeldt puts it: "It is crucial to mobilise not only girls and women, but also boys, fathers, husbands, brothers and local and religious leaders. The challenge may seem overwhelming. Yet there is reason to be optimistic, as an increasing number of African girls are saying no, more young men are marrying uncircumcised girls, and entire villages are denouncing the practice and declaring zero tolerance for female genital mutilation".

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