Traditional Practices

Convenor : Berhane Ras Work (Inter African Committee)

Objective
The Working Group was set-up in 1977. Its principal aim is to focus on eliminating female genital mutilation and other harmful traditional practices affecting the health of women and girls, notably in Africa There are 28 NGO members, who enjoy consultative status with ECOSOC.

The principal objectives of the WG are:

• To assist the Special Rapporteur on traditional Practices in her efforts in the UN Commission on Human Rights efforts to hold three regional seminars on Harmful Traditional Practices, namely in Africa, Asia and Europe.
• To develop a greater understanding of HTP’s amongst migrant communities.
• To promote the Draft Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Harmful Traditional Practices Affecting the Fundamental Rights of Women and Girls for integration in the African Charter.

I am proud that UNFPA has been closely working in partnership with the NGO Committee on the Status of Women in Geneva, to bring visibility to the realities of gender inequality which have direct and often malign consequences for women's health and education, and for their social and economic participation. Your Committee and its 10 Working Groups, Task Forces and Special Projects, should be congratulated for your energy, courage and foresight in building a coalition of over 60 NGOs that advocates in a very comprehensive manner within the UN system, women's human rights, gender equality and development and the participation of women in decision making in all areas relevant to improving their lives.
UNFPA was established in 1969 to underscore the universality and indivisibility of human rights and the inherent human rights of individual women and men. It has worked with a range of partners to forge the consensus that women's rights are human rights and the equality of women and men is integral to development. The Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development adopted in 1994 guides the work of UNFPA. I therefore commend you for your advocacy to influence governments to respect the commitments they have made at world conferences and your efforts to bring women into the mainstream of development emphasizing partnership between women and men.

Thoraya Ahmed Obaid
UNPA Executive Director

Activities
The Working Group has lobbied intensively with the UN, the Office of the High Commission on Human Rights, WHO, UNICEF and UNHCR. The results of this lobby work can be seen in the following:

• The creation of the special UN Working Group on Traditional Practices.
• The appointment of the Special Rapporteur on Traditional Practices.
• The Working Group helped draft Article 24.3 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which prohibits harmful traditional practices (HTP).
• Members lobbied at the World Health Assembly for the adoption of the WHA resolution 46.18 in 1993.
• Active presence in all the major UN Conference of the 1990s.
• Numerous statements made during the Commission on Human Rights, its Sub-Commission and to WHO General Assembly.
• Actively participated in the preparations for the World Conference on Racism.
• The WG receives regular reports on the work of the Inter-African Committee which was created in 1984, as a direct result of the work of its members.
• Has organised consultations with UN bodies, e.g. Consultations jointly sponsored by the Special Rapporteur of the Sub-Commission on Harmful Traditional Practices and the Inter-African Committee.

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