Intensifying global efforts for the elimination of female genital mutilation A/RES/71/168 Recognizing that female genital mutilation is inherently linked to deep -rooted, negative norms, stereotypes, perceptions and customs that are obstacles to the full enjoyment of human rights, Concerned about evidence of an increase in the incidence of female genital mutilation being carried out by medical personnel in all regions in which it is practised, Recognizing that negative discriminatory and stereotypical attitudes and behaviours have direct implications for the status and treatment of women and girls and that such negative stereotypes impede the implementation of legislative and normative frameworks that guarantee gender equality and prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, Stressing that men and boys play an important role in the acceleration of progress in preventing and eliminating harmful practices such as female genital mutilation by being agents of change, Recognizing that the campaign of the Secretary-General entitled “UNiTE to End Violence against Women” and the Global Database on Violence aga inst Women have contributed to addressing the elimination of female genital mutilation, Welcoming the efforts of the United Nations system to end female genital mutilation, in particular the commitment of 10 United Nations entities, 18 announced in their joint inter-agency statement of 27 February 2008 on eliminating female genital mutilation, as well as the Joint Programme on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: Accelerating Change of the United Nations Population Fund and the United Nat ions Children’s Fund, to accelerate the elimination of the practice, Commending the continued efforts and actions undertaken by States, individually and collectively, regional organizations and United Nations agencies for the elimination of female genital mutilation as well as the implementation of its resolution 69/150, Welcoming the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and underscoring the importance of its implementation with a view to eliminating female genital mutilation, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General, 19 Deeply concerned that, despite the increase in national, regional and international efforts and the focus on the elimination of female genital mutilation, the practice continues to persist in all regions of the world and is often on the rise for migrant and refugee women and girls, Deeply concerned also that a tremendous gap in resources continues to exist and that the shortfall in funding has severely limited the scope and pace of programmes and activities for the elimination of female genital mutilation, _______________ 18 Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, United Nations Development Programme, Economic Commission for Africa, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, United Nations Population Fund, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, United Nations Children’s Fund, United Nations Development Fund for Women and World Health Organization. 19 A/71/209. 3/7