联合国人口基金、儿童基金会、妇女发展基金、世界卫生组织等10个联合国机构27日发表联合声明，呼吁在2015年前大量减少因宗教和传统等多方面原因导致的女性割礼行为，并呼吁在一代人时间里消灭这一陋习。

Ten UN agencies have launched a campaign to significantly reduce female circumcision by 2015 and abandon the damaging practice within a generation.

In a statement, the agencies said female circumcision violates the rights of women and girls to health, protection, and even life since the procedure sometimes results in death.

The agencies, which include the UN Development Program; the UN Economic Commission for Africa, pledged to support all efforts by governments, communities, women and girls to reduce and end the practice.

Female circumcision usually involves the removal of the clitoris and other parts of female genitalia. Those who practice it say it tames a girl's sexual desire and maintains her honor.

"Today, we must stand and firmly oppose this practice because it clashes with our core universal values and constitutes a challenge to human dignity and health," Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro told the Commission on the Status of Women where the campaign was launched.

According to UN agencies, between 100 million and 140 million women and girls are estimated to have undergone female circumcision, and 3 million girls are estimated to be at risk of undergoing the procedure every year.

It is practiced by Muslims and Christians alike, deeply rooted in the Nile Valley region and parts of sub-Saharan Africa, and is also done in Yemen and Oman. Through migration, the practice has spread. The 10 agencies said in their statement that "the ambitious goal of eliminating female genital mutilation within a generation can be achieved by building on the progress of existing programs and working hand in hand with communities."

（Agencies/China Daily）

Vocabulary:

female circumcision：女性割礼（犹太教和穆斯林教的宗教仪式）

clitoris：阴蒂

genitalia：生殖器(尤指外阴部)

(英语点津Celene编辑)