Female circumcision, AIDS discrimination to be monitored.

• Position: Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women

The eradication of female circumcision and avoidance of discrimination against women victims of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) were the subjects of two general recommendations adopted at the ninth annual session (22 january-2 February, New York) of States Parties to the 1979 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

The 100 States Parties were asked to report to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women-the 23-member body which monitors compliance with the instrument-on measures taken to eliminate female circumcision which, it stated, has "serious health and other consequences for women and children".

Female circumcision-excision of external female genital organs-is a traditional practice affecting some 75 million women and children...