AFR/RC39/R9: Traditional practices affecting women and children The Regional Committee,
Considering the adverse effects on maternal and child health of certain traditional practices such as female circumcision, early marriage, nutritional taboos and other such practices;
Considering the high priority given by WHO and Member States to maternal and child health;
Convinced that the World Health Organization has an important role to play in the control of traditional practices affecting maternal and child health;
1. RECOMMENDS that the Member States concerned:
(i) adopt appropriate policies and strategies to eliminate female circumcision;
(ii) organize educational and informational activities, bearing in mind local cultural contexts, in order to:
- create awareness among women and men of the dangers of female circumcision, early marriage, nutritional taboos and similar practices;
- inform the general public of the possiblerelationship between the propagation of infectious diseases, including AIDS, and female circumcision;
(iii) prohibit the medicalization of female circumcision and discourage health personnel from performing this operation;
(iv) include in training programmes for health personnel and traditional birth attendants relevant information on the dangers of female circumcision;
(v) encourage research projects to identify the most effective means of controlling these practices;
(vi) take the steps necessary to put into practice the various recommendations made at the national and international levels in this area;
2. REQUESTS the Regional Director:
(i) to provide appropriate support to Member States in the implementation of this resolution;
(ii) to include this topic in the agenda of a future session of the Regional Committee.
September 1989, 39, 19
