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International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting
The 6th of February 2013 marks the 10th commemoration of the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting, which is observed each year to raise awareness about this practice. 

Female genital mutilation of any type has been recognized as a harmful practice and violation of the human rights of girls and women. Currently, FGM affects about 150 million girls and women, and more than 2 million girls are at risk every year. Around 5,500 women undergo genital mutilation every day! It affects women mainly in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, but also in Western countries. Increasingly, governments, media, NGOs and community leaders are speaking out against this harmful traditional practice.

In Europe, AWEPA works toward an increased and stronger coordination between African and European Parliamentarians on the issue of FGM. Furthermore, several parliamentary initiatives involving AWEPA members have taken place since 2010.

Meanwhile, members of the AWEPA Section in the Austrian Parliament are calling for far-reaching measures and actions in the fight against FGM and violence against women and girls around the world. They have introduced a resolution against FGM. Hon. Petra Bayr, Head of the Austrian AWEPA Section, is also Spokesperson of the platform stopFGM, the main platform against female genital mutilation in Austria. Hon. Bayr pointed out that currently 30 organizations and 1,200 individuals support stopFGM. "Evidence shows that numbers go down due to the efforts of many." 

AWEPA’s support to such initiatives is part of the programme called “The role of parliamentarians in the abandonment of FGM/C”.