聯合國人口基金、兒童基金會、婦女發展基金、世界衛生組織等10個聯合國機構27日發表聯合聲明，呼吁在2015年前大量減少因宗教和傳統等多方面原因導致的女性割禮行為，並呼吁在一代人時間裏消滅這一陋習。
Ten UN agencies have launched a campaign to
significantly reduce female circumcision by 2015 and abandon the damaging
practice within a generation.In a statement, the agencies said female
circumcision violates the rights of women and girls to health, protection, and
even life since the procedure sometimes results in death.
The agencies, which include the UN Development
Program; the UN Economic Commission for Africa, pledged to support all efforts
by governments, communities, women and girls to reduce and end the practice.
Female circumcision usually involves the removal of
the clitoris and other parts of female genitalia. Those who practice it say it
tames a girl's sexual desire and maintains her honor.
"Today, we must stand and firmly oppose this practice
because it clashes with our core universal values and constitutes a challenge to
human dignity and health," Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro told the
Commission on the Status of Women where the campaign was launched.
According to UN agencies, between 100 million and 140
million women and girls are estimated to have undergone female circumcision, and
3 million girls are estimated to be at risk of undergoing the procedure every
year.
It is practiced by Muslims and Christians alike,
deeply rooted in the Nile Valley region and parts of sub-Saharan Africa, and is
also done in Yemen and Oman. Through migration, the practice has spread. The 10
agencies said in their statement that "the ambitious goal of eliminating female
genital mutilation within a generation can be achieved by building on the
progress of existing programs and working hand in hand with communities."
（Agencies/China Daily）
Vocabulary:
female circumcision：女性割禮（猶太教和穆斯林教的宗教儀式）
clitoris：陰蒂
genitalia：生殖器(尤指外陰部)
