HRC59 - Iceland GC - A/HRC/59/L.22 Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation

Human Rights Council – 59th Session
Adoptions: General comment delivered by Iceland on resolution A/HRC/59/L.22
Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation

Mr. President,

Female genital mutilation can cause a lifetime of severe health complications and pain for women and girls. This harmful practice is also a serious violation of human rights and a manifestation of gender inequality and gender-based violence.

Women and girls often face obstacles when it comes to their sexual and reproductive health and rights, both legally and socially, whether related to access to quality services or education and information.

Iceland supports regional solutions to end the harmful practice of FGM and has contributed to the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of FGM since 2012.

Women and girls’ bodily autonomy and improved access to sexual and reproductive health services, provides them with increased opportunities to meaningfully participate in their communities.

For these reasons, Iceland joins consensus on draft resolution L.22.