By: Korey Rees, Student Reporter*

After days of consensus, the cohesion in ECA faltered in the final moments of the first report. While discussing a draft resolution, the impact of female genital mutilation (FGM) on women in business came up. FGM is the practice of removing or otherwise damaging parts of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. Authors published in e-ClinicalMedicine characterize evidence of FGM leading to higher levels of anxiety and depression as well as the possibility of PTSD from the act. It is a practice most common in Africa, but has been outlawed in the majority of Member States. That being said, enforcement of such policies has been lacking according to many. 

A report from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFP) stated that 68 million girls will be cut between 2015 and 2030 if the practice is not stopped. Additionally, Representative Ethan Harp of Burkina Faso stated that in Somalia around 91% of young women undergo FGM. 

The reports issued by the ECA contain 2 main things: findings and deliberation on how the body agreed on said findings. The Commission adopted the majority of the report by consensus and submitted it to the dais. They then examined the last remaining section on findings and recommendations. One of the operative clauses called for review of laws surrounding FGM. Ghana and Burkina Faso questioned the relevance of this. 

“[Burkina Faso was] of the opinion that to focus so heavily and write an operative clause that pertained to something that we can agree is wrong and largely a human rights issue, we believe it didn’t have a place in empowering women’s entrepreneurship” stated Representative Harp. 

This caused quite a stir and a number of representatives were displeased with the action being called for. 

Representative Madeline Ward of Egypt stated, “I think people weren’t grasping how [FGM] can tie into the economy. Aside from how horrific the procedure is, it costs millions of dollars to do the checkups and the further care required after.” Representative Evie Murphy of Egypt spoke on the chronic effects and repercussions of FGM and that it “inhibits your ability to function.” The delegation of Egypt emphasized the importance of acknowledging answers representatives don’t want to hear. Representative Murphy stated “Something we had been seeing was they were asking questions but not actually listening for the answers.” Through the ensuing deliberation Egypt exemplified that even if the answers are not satisfactory to some delegations that “we can still be respectful of what the representatives are trying to express” said Representative Murphy. 

After the masterful diplomacy of Egypt and Cote D’Ivoire, Representative Drew Johnson of Ghana stated “It is something that is important and needs to be included in Topic One but we came to the conclusion that the language needed to be softened.” As such the body changed the resolution from an operative clause calling for the “reviewing laws” to a preambulatory clause that “emphasizes the enforcement of FGM laws. “ And then they passed the chapter by general consensus. 

While the Egyptian delegation believes that a dual approach as suggested by Libya that included both a perambulatory and operative clause would be better, they are nonetheless appreciative of the progress that was made. Although the ECA stumbled on their final hurdle, they are determined to finish this race.

_{The views and opinions expressed in this article were part of a simulation of the United Nations held from 18 to 21 November 2023 and do not reflect the views and opinions of the American Model United Nations Conference, American Model United Nations International, LLC., *Anderson University or the governing bodies of the states mentioned in the article.}