LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION paying tribute to all survivors of Female Genital
Mutilation in conjunction with Crime Victims' Week in the State of New
York, April 26 - May 2, 2009

WHEREAS, There were an estimated 23 million violent crimes against both
people and property across America in 2002; and
WHEREAS, Every man, woman and child who is victimized by crime in
America deserves to be treated with dignity and compassion, and deserves
services and support to help them in the aftermath of crime; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body, representing the people of the State
of New York, would like to pay tribute to all survivors of Female Geni-
tal Mutilation (FGM) in conjunction with Crime Victims' Week in the
State of New York, April 26 - May 2, 2009; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, this Legislative Body would like to memorialize
Governor David A. Paterson to proclaim April 26, 2009, as Survivors of
Female Genital Mutilation Day in the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, In addition to FGM being recognized internationally as a
violation of the human rights, it is also a Class E felony in New York
State as well as the United States; this practice is rooted in a culture
of discrimination against women; it is a human rights abuse that func-
tions as an instrument for socializing girls into prescribed gender
roles and reinforces gender stratification; and
WHEREAS, FGM involves the removal of either part or all of the female
genitalia; this practice may refer to clitoridectomy (the removal of the
clitoris); excision (the removal of the labia minora); or infibulation
(the removal of the clitoris, labia minora and majora, and stitching
together); and
WHEREAS, Practiced in 28 North African countries, approximately 135
million girls, ranging from infancy to 15 years of age, and occasionally
adult women, have undergone FGM, and two million girls each year are at
risk, making that about 6,000 per day; and
WHEREAS, With absolutely no health benefits for the victims of FGM,
this procedure can cause severe bleeding and problems urinating, and
later, potential child birth complications and newborn deaths; and
WHEREAS, In 1997, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a joint
statement with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) against the practice of FGM; a
new statement, with wider United Nations support, was then issued in
February 2008, to support increased advocacy for the abandonment of FGM;
and
WHEREAS, Since 1997, great efforts have been made to counteract FGM
through research, work within communities, and changes in public policy;
progress at both international and local levels includes: wider interna-
tional involvement to stop FGM; the development of international moni-
toring bodies and resolutions that condemn the practice; revised legal
frameworks and growing political support to end FGM; and in some coun-
tries, decreasing practice of FGM, and an increasing number of women and
men in practicing communities who declare their support to end it; and
WHEREAS, Respect and dignity are basic rights of all those who have
been victimized by crime and those responsible must be held accountable
for their actions; and
WHEREAS, It is the duty of this Legislative Body to bring awareness to
the communities across the State of New York of dangerous, prejudiced
and discriminatory practices such as FGM, and to take a public stand
against this useless and destructive act; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to pay
tribute to all survivors of Female Genital Mutilation in conjunction

with Crime Victims' Week in the State of New York, April 26 - May 2,
2009, and to memorialize Governor David A. Paterson to proclaim April
26, 2009, as Survivors of Female Genital Mutilation Day in the State of
New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable David A. Paterson, Governor of the State of New
York.