Tenth Anniversary of the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation Panel Discussion

In observance of the tenth anniversary of the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C), Ambassador at Large for Global Women’s Issues Melanne Verveer will deliver remarks and lead a panel discussion on February 6 at 9:30 a.m. in the Loy Henderson Auditorium. To raise awareness of the prevalence and consequences of FGM/C and discuss efforts and solutions to address this harmful traditional practice, Ambassador Verveer will be joined by leaders and practitioners in the field including: The Honorable Amina Salum Ali, Ambassador of the African Union to the United States; Dr. Nawal Nour of the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA; Bakary Tamba of the nongovernmental organization (NGO) Tostan in Senegal; and Jessie Hexpoor of the NGO Hivos in the Netherlands.

The remarks and panel discussion will be open to the press.

Preset time for video cameras: 8:45 a.m. from the 23rd Street entrance.

Final access time for press: 9:15 a.m. from the 23^rd Street entrance.

Media representatives may attend this event upon presentation of one of the following: (1) A U.S. Government-issued identification card (Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense, or Foreign Press Center), (2) a media-issued photo identification card, or (3) a letter from their employer on letterhead verifying their employment as a journalist, accompanied by an official photo identification card (driver's license, passport).

Follow the event @S_GWI and hashtags #EndFGM/C and #ZTD on Twitter.

The program will also be webcast live for international audiences at URL: http://conx.state.gov/digital-diplomacy

PRESS CONTACT:

SGWI_PA@state.gov