CAIRO: Newly released figures are showing that the prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM) among teenage girls in Egypt between the ages of 15-17 has dropped from 74 percent to 61 percent from the years 2008-2014.
The country’s Health Ministry along with the National Population Council released the figures this week saying Egypt was able to cut the rate of the practice by 13 percent over a period of six years.
It said that new policies, laws and awareness campaigns have contributed to the decrease, a report by Al-Masry El-Youm has said.
According to the United Nations, the global number of women and girls who have undergone FGM has reached 200 million.
In 2014, according to the population health survey, FGM in Egypt stood at 92 percent among married girls between the ages of 15-49.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines FGM as “any operation involving partial or total removal of female genitalia.”
Despite the fact that the practice has been criminalized in Egypt since 2008, an estimated 87 percent of the country’s girls and women aged between 15 to 49 have undergone FGM.
The practice is culturally believed among certain sectors of the Egyptian society that it “reduces” a woman’s sexual appetites.
But Egypt’s religious institutes such as Al-Azhar University and Dar El Iftaa’ have made efforts toward integrating anti-FGM in their programs.
FGM rate drops in Egypt by 13% among teenage girls in six years
FGM rate drops in Egypt by 13% among teenage girls in six years
Gulf countries offer support to Yemen’s legitimate government, Saudi security
- Qatar, Kuwait say their security is based on the security of Saudi Arabia and the GCC
- Bahrain said it had confidence in the leadership of Saudi Arabia and the UAE to contain differences
LONDON: Gulf and Arab countries on Tuesday offered support to the internationally recognized government in Yemen after the UAE withdrew its forces from the country.
The statements were issued after the military coalition supporting Yemen’s government carried out airstrikes on a shipment of weapons and vehicles destined for southern separatist forces.
The shipment arrived in the port of Mukalla on board two vessels from Fujairah in the UAE.
The Emirates was asked by Rashad Al-Alimi, head of Yemen’s presidential council, to withdraw its troops from Yemen within 24 hours.
Saudi Arabia said the separatists, operating under the Southern Transitional Council and supported by the UAE, posed a direct threat to the Kingdom’s national security and regional stability by recently seizing territory in the governorates of Hadramaut and Al-Mahra.
Qatar said it was following the developments “with keen interest.”
A foreign ministry statement said Doha fully supported the legitimate Yemeni government and stressed the importance of preserving Yemen's unity and safeguarding the interests of the Yemeni people.
It added that the security of Saudi Arabia and the security of the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) “constitute an inseparable part of the security of the State of Qatar, reflecting the deep-rooted fraternal ties and shared destiny that unite the GCC states.”
The ministry commended the statements issued by Saudi Arabia and the UAE “which reflect a commitment to prioritizing the interests of the region.”
Kuwait also offered “unwavering support” for Yemen’s government and said the security of Saudi Arabia and GCC is the basis of its own national security.
Its foreign ministry praised the “responsible approach” taken by both Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Bahrain, the current GCC chair, said it had confidence in the leadership of Saudi Arabia and the UAE “and their ability to contain any differences in viewpoints within the framework of a unified Gulf.”
The foreign ministry statement offered “unequivocal” support toward regional and international initiatives and efforts aimed at reaching a comprehensive and lasting political solution in Yemen.
Egypt said it had full confidence in Saudi Arabia and the UAE “to handle the current developments in Yemen with wisdom.”
Cairo will continue efforts toward a comprehensive political settlement for Yemen, the statement said.
