On 26 June the Minister of International Development, Ms Hilde F. Johnson, will launch Norway’s first International Plan of Action for Combating Female Genital Mutilation. This step marks an intensification of the Government’s efforts to eradicate this brutal custom. The intention is that by 2005 the plan will have an annual budget of NOK 20 million. Moreover, support for NGOs that work in this area is to be increased by 25 per cent.

In spite of the large number of international law provisions prohibiting female genital mutilation, 5000 to 6000 girls are subjected to it every day. About 100 to 130 million women and girls have had the operation, and are having to live with the physical and mental after-effects. An estimated two million girls a year are at risk of being subjected to genital mutilation.

“Genital mutilation is a gross violation of girls’ and women’s human rights,” said International Development Minister Johnson. “We are therefore stepping up our financial support to local and Norwegian NGOs and to the UN agencies that are working to combat female genital mutilation. We are also taking up this question in political talks with our partner countries in order to put pressure on states to fulfil international obligations and to emphasise their responsibility to protect girls’ and women’s rights,” added the Minister.

Press contact: Acting Head of Information Trine Øveraas, mobile +47 91 69 77 74/e-mail: trine.overaas@mfa.no