Every year, 3 million girls and women are subjected to femaile genital mutilation and cutting (FGMC). FGMC is an act of violence against women that must be combated by a number of actors, including parliaments. The regional conference entitled Violence against women, abandoning female genital mutilation: The role of parliaments was held by the National Assembly of Senegal and the African Parliamentary Union (APU) in cooperation with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). It took place in Dakar on 4 and 5 December 2005. This conference made it possible for parliamentarians from African countries to exchange views, and helped build a better understanding of the role that parliaments should play in fighting FGMC. Specifically, the conference emphasized the means available to eradicate this practice not only through laws, but also through societal changes and action at the local level.

DOCUMENTS

	Final Declaration [PDF] and [HTML]
	Provisional programme
	Invitation [PDF]
	General information [PDF]
	Concept paper [PDF]

RELATED SITES

	Press Release N° 213: Female genital mutilation: parliamentarians commit to stop it
	Parliamentary Campaign "Stop Violence against Women: Female genital mutilation"

Initialy posted on 4 November 2005
PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME
SONDAY, 4 December
9 - 9.30 a.m.	Official opening of the Conference.
Plenary session
9.30 - 11 a.m.	Female Genital mutilation: where do we stand? An introduction: What is FGM? Why FGM? What are the consequences of FGM? Presentation of current status, progress made and challenges ahead Addressing the cultural and other justifications provided for FGM
11 - 11.15 a.m.	Break
11.15 a.m. - 1 p.m.	Legislating against FGM The International Framework to combat FGM The role of legislation: Preventing and sanctioning FGM Development and implementation of the law - best practices
1 - 3.30 p.m.	Lunch
Working group sessions
3.30 - 6.30 p.m.	Beyond legislation: Building an accompanying environment for the abandonment of FGM
Working Group 1:	Taking action at the community level Changing mentalities Educating against FGM The role of the media The role of traditional chiefs and community leaders
Working Group 2:	Institutional mechanisms National Mechanisms The role of national committees or parliamentary committees: examples of best practices; the role of ombudspersons Developing national strategies /national plan of actions Budgeting against FGM
MONDAY, 5 December
Working group sessions
9.30 a.m. - 12.30 p.m.	Beyond legislation: Building an accompanying environment for the abandonment of FGM (continued)
Working Group 1:	Taking action at the community level (continued) Working with civil society Examples of community based/grass root initiatives The TOSTAN experience; other experiences Examples of partnerships with NGOs
Working Group 2:	Institutional mechanisms (continued) International cooperation The role of international organisations Strengthening cooperation with destination countries
12.30 - 3 p.m.	Lunch
Plenary session
3 - 5 p.m.	A broader approach to FGM Abandoning FGM: a human rights approach Abandoning FGM: Presentation of the United Nations Secretary General’s Report on Violence against Children
5 - 6.30 p.m.	Closing session of the Conference Adoption of the FINAL DECLARATION