There is growing recognition that harmful traditional beliefs and practices underscore violence and discrimination against girls. Traditionally condoned forms of discrimination include: son preference as tradition; Early and forced marraige; and female genital mutilation (FGM). This page contains links to information about traditional harmful practices, with particular emphasis given to FGM.

Reports | Female Genital Mutilation | Journal Articles | Links

• Fact Sheet No.23, Harmful Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, 2008
• Child Marriage: Girls 14 and Younger At Risk, International Women's Health Coalition, 2008
  
• Annotated Bibliography on Comparative and International Law relating to Forced Marriage, Nadine Dostrovsky, Rebecca Cook and Michael Gagnon, Department of Justice Canada, 2007
  
• New Insights on Preventing Child Marriage - A Global Analysis of Factors & Programs, International Center for Research on Women, 2007
• How Do We End Child Marriage? Policy Brief, International Centre for Research on Women, 2007 
• Health consequences of child marriage in Africa. Nour N. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2006
• Causes and Consequences of Early Marriage in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia, Pathfinder International, 2006
• Health Consequences of Child Marriage in Africa, Nour, N.M., Perspective Volume 12, Number 11 November 2006
• The Impact of Harmful Traditional Practices on The Girl Child, Prepared by Berhane Ras-Work for Expert Group Meeting Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination & Violence Against The Girl Child, UN Division for the Advancement of Women, Italy, 2006 
• The impact of harmful traditional practices on the girl child, Ras-Work, B., United Nations [UN] Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW), 2006
• CRIMES OF HONOR UN RESOLUTION:  Working towards the elimination of crimes against women and girls committed in the name of honor.  United Nations General Assembly Resolution, A/C.3/59/L.25: 15 October 2004
• Study on Freedom of Religion or Belief and the Status of Women From the Viewpoint of Religion and Traditions (E/CN.4/2002/73/Add.2). Mr. Abdelfattah Amor, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, UN 2002

Female genital mutilation affects an estimated 130 million girls and women, mainly in Africa, and often leads to serious health problems.

• Eliminating Female Genital Mutilation: An interagency statement, OHCHR, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNECA, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNIFEM, WHO. World Health Organisation, 2008
  
• Accelerating the Abandonment of Female Genital Cutting: Community Change to Support Human Rights, Stephanie Joyce, Population Council/FRONTIERS, Global Health Technical Brief
  
• Successful Strategies to Eliminate Harmful Traditional and Cultural Practices of Violence Against Women in Families Living According to Islamic Teachings, Speech by Prof. Dr. Zaitunah Subhan, Expert Staff on Religion Affairs of the Ministry of Women Empowerment Republic of Indonesia, Expert Group Meeting on Regional Strategies for Implementing the Recommendations from the UN Secretary-General's In-Depth Study on All Forms of Violence Against Women, With Particular Emphasis on the Role of National Machineries - April 26-27, 2007 - Bangkok, Thailand
• Child Protection Information Sheet, Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting, UNICEF, 2006
• Female Genital Mutilation, WHO
• Abandoning Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: An In-Depth Look at Promising Practices, Feldman-Jacobs C, and Ryniak S, Population Reference Bureau (PRB), 2006
• Accelerating the Abandonment of Female Genital Cutting: Community Change to Support Human Rights. Global Health Technical Briefs, 2006 
• A Tradition No Longer: Rethinking Female Circumcision in Africa, Louisa Kasdon, World & I, November-December 2005
• Female Genital Cutting Leads to Childbirth Complications
  New study shows female genital mutilation exposes women and babies to significant risk at childbirth.
• Abandoning Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: Information From Around the World, Population Reference Bureau, 2005
• Information on Female Genital Cutting: What Is Out There? What Is Needed?, Population Reference Bureau, 2004

• Female genital mutilation and obstetric outcome: WHO collaborative prospective study in six African countries,The Lancet; 367:1835-1841, 2006 (Note: quick registration required for access)
• Methodological issues in measuring the impact of interventions against female genital cutting, Ian Askew, Routledge Taylor & Francis Group,  Culture, Health & Sexuality , Volume: 7, Issue: 5, Pages: 463-477, 2005

• Female Genital Cutting and Demographic and Health Surveys, 2005
• Female Genital Mutilation Webpage, Medical Advocates
• Global Technical Consultation on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting
• Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices
• Lessons Learned: Providing Communication and Technical Assistance in FGM Programs, Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH)
• Razor's Edge:  - The Controversy of Female Genital Mutilation, IRIN Web Special on Female Genital Mutilation. 
• Stop FGMC
• The Bride Price - Consequences of Child Marriage Worldwide
  
• Tostan - Community Led Development