Female Circumcision Closer to Ban: The
United Nations on Monday moved one step closer to banning female genital mutilation, reports the
Associated Press.
A key U.N. Committee adopted a resolution — virtually assured to be approved by the
full U.N. General Assemby — that calls genital mutilation a serious threat to the mental, sexual and
reproductive well-being of females worldwide.
Such an approval carries no legal weight, but can sway other
governments morally and politically.
About 70 million girls and women were circumsized in 2010, the U.N.
says; the World Health Organization reports that around 6,000 girls are circumcised daily.
A major concern
is that immigrant communities into U.N.-member countries bring their home countries' traditions with them,
including genital mutilation.
via AP/Huffington
