African First Ladies discuses on ways of eliminating HTPs

Addis Ababa, May 18 (WIC) - A two-pronged evening program with a dual purpose of initiating a conversation on the total elimination of harmful traditional practices and the purview of introducing Inter-African Committee-USA and the Inter-African Committee on the elimination of harmful traditional practices was staged at the Chancery of the Ethiopian Embassy on May 14, 2012.

According to a statement the Ethiopian Embassy in Washington DC posted on its website, the festival was accompanied by a colorful display of Ethiopian traditional coffee ceremony, authentic and organic Ethiopian cuisine, raw and roasted Ethiopian coffee, and other cultural and modern Ethiopian beverages.

Ethiopian Honey Wine, accompanied by traditional songs and aesthetics, exemplifying the special Ethiopian blend of cuisine, music, art and culture gave the occasion an aura of festivity.

The colloquium kicked off in the presence of esteemed dignitaries whose retinue included Chantal Compaore, First Lady of Burkina Faso and Goodwill Ambassador of the Inter-Africa Committee, and Madame Lalla Malika Issuzu, First Lady of Niger, Ambassador Girma Birru, Special Envoy, Ambassador Extra-ordinary and Plenipotentiary of the of Ethiopia to the US and non-resident Envoy to Mexico and other invited guests.   


The discussion centered on the crucial leadership role the continental organization has taken in the creation of International instruments, the success in bringing about national bans to the practice of Female Genital Mutilation/FGM/ and its current input to the imminent UN Resolution condemning the continuing practice of FGM and encouraging nations to implement and enforce bans on the sad practice.


Chantal Compaore, in her closing remark of the function underlined the need for a concerted effort to fight against traditional practices that negatively impact the lives of women and children.

The Goodwill Ambassador stressed that she seriously takes a close and personal interest to do what it takes to thwart the hazardous practices.


Madam Lalla on her part emphasized for the pivotal role First Ladies should play to see to it that laws are enacted forbidding these practices and for the need to have the tools necessary to enforce and realize them in practice.   


Ambassador Girma Birru on his part called for an enhanced and accelerated moves by African countries to realize the MDGs that also embody child and maternal health and harmful practices affecting the health of women and children.    


In this regard the Ethiopian envoy pledged his country's support for the initiatives raised in the course of the discussion by genuinely referring to the dire consequences afflicting women and children in Ethiopia by underscoring a united endeavor to mitigate such a scourge.

Other keynote speakers representing the continental organization and its US arm also highlighted for a joint and urgent action that needs to be effected to annul the harmful practice while in the interlude traditional African Madingue musical lyrics were played and a documentary film on the harmful practices in various countries of Africa was depicted with the view to exchanging helpful information across the board.