Bamako, 22 February 2006

Participants to the Sub-Regional Conference on Female Genital Mutilation and the Implementation of the Maputo Protocol, organised by the Government of Mali and the international association No Peace Without Justice and inaugurated yesterday by the First Lady of Mali, Ms Toure Lobbo Traore, and by the Italian radical MEP Emma Bonino, have closed the Conference by adopting the “Bamako declaration for the abandonment of FGM”.

The declaration integrates the recommendations of the working groups calling for, among others, the application at national level of the Maputo Protocol obligations regarding the fight against FGM, through the enactment of specific legislations as well as other adequate measures, in particular such as information and prevention campaigns.
The objective is to put a final end to this practice, considered as a violation of fundamental human rights, as stated by the representatives of governments, parliaments and civil society from the eight countries participating to the Conference.

At the beginning of the closing ceremony, participants have observed a minute of silence in memory of the President of Radicali Italiani Luca Coscioni.

For further information, contact Mr Nicola Giovannini, tel: +32 2 548 39 14; fax: +32 2 548 39 19; email: ngiovannini@npwj.org