A/HRC/RES/32/21 Recognizing that female genital mutilation can be an impediment to the full achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, Recognizing also that efforts at the local, national, regional and international levels have led to a decline in the global prevalence of female genital mutilation, Recognizing further the role of regional and subregional instruments and mechanisms in the prevention and elimination of female genital mutilation, Reaffirming that female genital mutilation is a form of discrimination, an act of violence against women and girls and a harmful practice that constitutes a serious threat to their health, including their psychological, sexual and reproductive health, which can increase adverse obstetric and prenatal outcomes and have fatal consequences for the mother and the newborn, as well as increasing their vulnerability to HIV, and that the elimination of this harmful practice can be achieved only as a result of a comprehensive government-led movement that involves all public and private stakeholders in society, including girls and boys, women and men, Noting that these human rights violations and abuses of the rights of women and girls can jeopardize their full and effective participation in the economic, political, social and cultural development of their country, Taking note of the Secretary-General’s “Unite to End Violence against Women” campaign, Deeply concerned that, despite the increase in national, regional and international efforts, the practice of female genital mutilation persists in some countries and has seen the development of new forms, such as medicalization and cross-border practice, Recalling the inter-agency global strategy initiated in 2010 by the World Health Organization to stop health-care providers from performing female genital mutilation, Bearing in mind that States have primary responsibility for creating favourable conditions to prevent and eliminate female genital mutilation, and for achieving zero tolerance of the practice, Welcoming the growing global consensus regarding the need to take appropriate measures to prevent and eliminate female genital mutilation, and understanding that this practice has no relevant religious or cultural basis, Greatly concerned that the significant gap in resources continues and that the shortfall in funding has severely limited the scope and pace of programmes and activities for the elimination of female genital mutilation, Welcoming the establishment by the United Nations of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, on 6 February, the theme of which is, in 2016, achieving the new global goals through the elimination of female genital mutilation by 2030, 1. Urges States to place special emphasis on education, in particular of youth, parents and religious, traditional and community leaders, about the harmful effects of female genital mutilation, and especially to encourage men and boys to become more involved in information and awareness-raising campaigns and to become agents of change; 2. Calls upon States to continue and intensify efforts to provide information and raise awareness about the harmful effects of female genital mutilation and about the continuing increase at the national and international levels in support for the elimination of the practice, and to organize activities within this framework during the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation with the involvement of religious and 2