A/HRC/RES/38/6 Recognizing the role of regional and subregional instruments and mechanisms in the prevention and elimination of female genital mutilation, Taking note of the “UNiTE to end violence against women” campaign launched by the Secretary-General in 2018, Recalling the inter-agency global strategy launched in 2010 by the World Health Organization to stop health-care providers from performing female genital mutilation, Welcoming the growing global consensus on the need to take appropriate measures to prevent and eradicate female genital mutilation, and considering that this practice cannot be justified on religious or cultural grounds, Recognizing that efforts at the local, national, regional and international levels have led to a decline in the global prevalence of female genital mutilation, but remaining deeply concerned that there is still a significant shortfall in the resources allocated to the elimination of female genital mutilation and that the lack of funding has severely limited the scope and roll-out of programmes and activities designed to eliminate the practice, Reaffirming the obligations and commitments of States to respect, protect and promote the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls and to prevent and eliminate the practice of female genital mutilation, Bearing in mind that States have primary responsibility for preventing and eliminating female genital mutilation and for achieving zero tolerance of the practice, 1. Urges States to condemn all harmful practices that affect women and girls, in particular female genital mutilation, including medical acts performed within or outside of medical institutions, and to take all necessary measures to prohibit female genital mutilation and to protect women and girls from this form of violence; 2. Urges States to adopt, implement, harmonize and enforce laws and policies to prevent and put an end to female genital mutilation, protect those at risk and support women and girls who have been subjected to the practice; 3. Calls upon States to develop and implement, with the participation of the relevant stakeholders — including girls, women, religious and traditional leaders, community leaders, health-care providers, civil society, human rights groups, men and boys and youth organizations — integrated, comprehensive and coordinated strategies and policies to prevent and eliminate all forms of female genital mutilation; 4. Urges States to ensure the national implementation of international and regional obligations that they have undertaken under the various international instruments that protect the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls; 5. Stresses that the empowerment of women and girls is key to breaking the cycle of discrimination and violence and to promoting and protecting human rights, including the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; 6. Calls upon States, the international community and the United Nations system to stop the medicalization of female genital mutilation, which implies drawing up and disseminating guidance and legal provisions for medical personnel and traditional birth attendants so as to provide an adequate response to the chronic mental and physical health problems of the millions of women and girls who have undergone female genital mutilation, as these problems hinder progress in the field of health in general and in the protection of human rights, including the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; 7. Urges States to respect, protect and promote the human rights of all women and girls, and to adopt and expedite the implementation of laws, policies and programmes that protect and enable their enjoyment of all human rights and all fundamental freedoms, including their sexual and reproductive health; GE.18-11905 3