§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to(a) the Government of Sudan and (b) the United Nations regarding plans to legalise female genital mutilation. [64600]
§ Mr. MacShaneOur embassy in Khartoum has made representations at ministerial level in Khartoum, both bilaterally and in co-ordination with EU partners, on the Sudanese Government's reported plans to legalise female genital mutilation (FGM). The Government of Sudan reassured us that there were no plans to legalise the practice. The embassy also works closely with Sudanese civil society groups in advocating the eradication of FGM. It forms part of the campaign for ratification of the UN Convention on the Eradication of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in which we have actively supported the growing women's rights movement and UN attempts to address these issues. In particular, our embassy has on—going discussion with UNICEF. We have also funded various project aimed at eradication of FGM, including the national advocacy campaign for 2002–03.