UN Resolution on Traditional or customary practices affecting the health of women and girls

The UN Resolution 56/128 on ‘Traditional or customary practices affecting the health of women and girls’ was adopted by the General Assembly on 19 December 2001.

It condones the work done by UN affiliated agencies to eliminate harmful practices specifically concerning girls and women. The GA speaks for “establishing or strengthening support services to respond to the needs of victims by, inter alia, developing comprehensive and accessible sexual and reproductive health services and by providing training to health-care providers at all levels on the harmful health consequences of such practices”.

“Through consultations with communities and religious and cultural groups and their leaders, alternatives to harmful traditional or customary practices” the UN member states are to counteract harmful practices.