Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices

February 2009

International Day on Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation

February 6th is the International Day on Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The theme for this year's observation is “Political will at the Center of Achieving Zero Tolerance to FGM”.

The objective of observing February 6 is to draw the attention, at international and national levels to the efforts that need to be exerted to free women and girls from FGM and to accelerate action towards its elimination by the set target date of 2010 according to the Common Agenda for Action or by 2015, which is the target of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).

The Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices (IAC) with its Affiliates and Partners across the world calls on governments, parliamentarians, UN agencies, NGOs, donor community, religious leaders, community leaders, youth, communities and members of the Press to make a greater commitment to ensure the elimination of FGM.

An event to observe the 6th anniversary of the International Day on Zero Tolerance to FGM in Geneva was organized by the Inter-African Committee (IAC) in collaboration with the Interparliamentary Union (IPU), the International Organisation of Migration (IOM), and the Geneva Institutions Department.


It took place on 6 February 2009 at the Geneva International Conference Centre.

October 2008

IAC General Assembly/ International Conference

The Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices (IAC) held its 7th General Assembly/ International Conference with the theme "Partnering with the Media to reach Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)".

Over 150 participants from 26 African countries, Australia, Canada, Europe, Japan, New Zealand and the United States of America, attended IAC's 7th General Assembly/ International Conference, which took place in Cairo, Egypt from October 27 to 30, 2008.

The First Lady of Egypt, H.E. Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak officially opened the conference. In her opening speech, Mrs. Mubarak praised "the work that IAC is undertaking to assist many African societies, in terms of gender parity, peace and development".

IAC National Committee delegates and Group Sections reported on the activities carried out. In three panel sessions the media, the youth and religious leaders harped on the synergy needed to eliminate FGM and other harmful tradition practices within the time frame of 2010 according to the Common Agenda.

The conference adopted a 4-year plan of action and elected a new IAC executive Board, which will serve for the next 3 years. A 12-point declaration was made by media representatives.

The next IAC General Assembly/ International Conference will be held in Cameroon in 2011.

Symposium for Legislators

The Maputo Protocol is an important regional instrument exercised through the African Union. It covers a broad range of women's rights, including the elimination of discrimination against women, the right to dignity, the right to life, the integrity and security of the person, the right to education and training, economic and social welfare rights and health and reproductive rights. Especially important to IAC'½s work is Article 5 of the Protocol, which requires that all forms of FGM be condemned and prohibited.

To date, 43 countries out of the 53 in the African Union have adopted the Protocol, but only 21 have ratified it. Only 18 out of the 28 countries where FGM is practiced have national legislation against FGM.

IAC held a Symposium for Legislators from 19 to 21 October 2008 to sensitize and train those involved in legislation on the importance of the ratification and domestication of the Maputo Protocol. Training was provided on implementing these laws in order protect women from violence in general and from harmful traditional practices in particular.