Executive Director of IAC Bags an Austrian parliament award for her fight against Female Genital Mutilation

On the 26th of April,  the Executive Director of the IAC-Inter-African Committee, Mrs Berhane Ras-Work, an icon of the fight against FGM , was presented with Austria 's highest Order of Merit by Barbara Prammer, President of the Austrian Parliament, at a grand ceremony in Vienna . This award is in recognition of her over 25 years struggle to bring an end to the gruesome practice of FGM.

In the early 80's, when the subject was very much a taboo, Mrs Ras-Work joined the group of Europeans who wanted an end to FGM. She is the first African woman to publicly demand the immediate eradication of the practice and encourage a North-South dialogue on the subject.  Thanks to the efforts of  these women in campaigning for Zero Tolerance against FGM, the subject is no longer a taboo and is  publicly addressed and debated in public. FGM  today, is considered a  violation of human rights and the physical integrity  of women

According to Mrs Ras Work, this award  is an evidence of the critical advocacy  work started with the NGO Working Group on Traditional Practices way back in 1977 in Geneva , with members of 26 NGOs enjoying consultative status with the UN. Years of lobbying and networking by the NGO Working Group eventually led to the creation of the IAC on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children in 1984 under the leadership of Ras-Work.

IAC's principal aim is to empower women through information and education.  Although some progress have been made in  challenging the values attached to FGM and other  harmful traditional  practices affecting women and children,  absolute Zero Tolerance is yet to be achieved.

Please Click here to view the pictures of the award ceremony on the Austrian parliament website.