Category Archives: Press Statement

29.10.2013. UNFPA und UNICEF just organized a high-level conference on female genital mutilation in Rome from October 21st to 25th. We took this as an opportunity to search for UNFPA statements on FGM in the Middle East and found this amazing piece in the Muscat Daily. In the article under the headline “FGM practiced in […]

Continue Reading →

20.10.2013 By Wadi Significant Decrease of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Iraqi-Kurdistan, New Survey Data Shows  In several Iraqi Kurdish regions female genital mutilation (FGM) has declined significantly within a decade. During the last six months, the Iraqi-German NGO Wadi has collected data on the prevalence of female genital mutilation in the areas of Suleimaniyah, […]

Continue Reading →

19.9.2013. In a recent fatwa a certain Sheikh Al-Hajji Al-Kurdi from the Saudi Ministry of Awqaf & Islamic Affairs endorsed female genital mutilation in its “sunna” form which stipulates the cutting of the clitoris prepuce. He distinguished this allowed “Islamic circumcision” from forbidden “Pharaonic circumcisions”. On the ground, however, it is common opinion that “sunna […]

Continue Reading →

25. August 2013, by Arvid Vormann A new study on FGM in Iraqi Kurdistan produced by several Kurdish medical scientists in cooperation with the KRG Ministry of Health appears largely consistent with Wadi’s findings from 2008. Investigating on its own initiative, the Kurdish government now seems to be truly willing to take concrete steps and […]

Continue Reading →

07. 08. 2013 The recent Unicef report on female genital mutilation (FGM) has sparked a debate about the best way to eliminate the practice. As Thomas Reuters reports some campaigners stress the necessity of law enforcement while others are set on the empowerment of women. No one denies that both are important but the emphasis […]

Continue Reading →

26.07.2013 This week, UNICEF issued a report on female genital mutilation (FGM). It stresses the importance of continuous data gathering to inform policymakers and programmes, as a vital part of all efforts to eliminate FGM. German NGO Wadi and Hivos welcome the amount of exposure this report has received and fully endorse the need, amongst […]

Continue Reading →

17.7.2003 by Stop FGM Mideast The highest religious authority in Egypt has – once again – condemned female genital mutilation. In the current climate with fears rising last year that then ruling islamists could decriminalize FGM, this is an important signal and success in the struggle against FGM. Yet, the practice remains widespread in the […]

Continue Reading →

17.4.2013. Hivos and our partner WADI proudly announce the launch of the ‘Stop FGM Middle East’ campaign’s website to break the silence about female genital mutilation (FGM) in the Middle East and to contribute to its full elimination. Girls and women all over the Middle East face the practice of FGM, which constitutes a gross […]

Continue Reading →

6.2.2013. Press Release – The Hague and Suleimania, Currently one hundred and forty million girls and women are estimated to have undergone a female genital mutilation (FGM) procedure. On the 6th of February, which was introduced by the United Nations as The International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation, Hivos and Wadi – […]

Continue Reading →