Source: Leadership
A senior United Nations official and the renowned singer-songwriter Angélique Kidjo has urged Nigeria, UN Member States and communities to outlaw Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and raise awareness about its harmful effects, especially in African countries where the practice is most prevalent.

Also, Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) told a news conference at UN Headquarters that many communities are increasingly abandoning FGM thanks to the use of "culturally sensitive, human rights-based approaches that support the positive values within communities that want the best for their girls and women."

Over the past three years, some 8,000 communities across the world, including in 15 African countries, have abandoned the practice, he said. Last year alone 2,000 communities declared that they will no longer allow the human rights violation to continue.

"It is truly heartening that social norms and cultural practices are changing and communities are uniting to protect the rights of their girls and women," said Mr. Osotimehin.

Ms. Kidjo, a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and a passionate advocate for girls' education, challenged African leaders to be on the forefront of efforts to eradicate FGM, which she said "diminished" women and sought to destroy their identity.

• Nigeria