http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=414146&version=1&template_id=39&parent_id=21
Female circumcision migrating to West: IOM Publish Date: Sunday,6 February, 2011, at 01:01 AM Doha Time AFP/Geneva Female genital mutilation has established itself in Western countries in recent years because of growing migration flows, the head of an international migration agency said on Friday. "With the growth in migration in recent years, the phenomenon has unfortunately reached Europe (and) the United States," said William Lacy Swing, head of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). In an event to mark the international day of "zero tolerance" to female genital mutilation, Swing highlighted European Parliament estimates of 500,000 circumcised women living in Europe. The IOM estimates that between 100mn and 140mn women and girls have suffered from the traditional practice. Most of the victims are in Africa, according to the Inter Parliamentary Union, an association of world parliaments. Nonetheless, it is on the wane in "many African countries", according to African anti-circumcision campaign group CIAF. "It's torture. Knives are used to cut the most sensitive part of the body," said CIAF head Berhane Ras-Work. Nineteen African and 12 European countries, as well Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the US, have adopted laws outlawing the practice. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Post message: [email protected] Subscribe : [email protected] Unsubscribe : [email protected] List owner : [email protected] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
