A/RES/53/117 Page 2 Recalling the provisions of the outcome of the World Conference on Human Rights, held at Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993,4 the International Conference on Population and Development,5 the Ninth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, held at Cairo from 29 April to 8 May 1995,6 and the Fourth World Conference on Women7 pertaining to traditional or customary practices affecting the health of women and girls, Reaffirming that such practices constitute a definite form of violence against women and girls and a serious form of violation of their human rights, Expressing concern at the continuing large-scale existence of such practices, Stressing that the elimination of such practices requires greater efforts and commitment from Governments, the international community and civil society, including non-governmental and community organizations, and that fundamental changes in societal attitudes are required, 1. Welcomes: (a) The report of the Secretary-General,8 which provides encouraging examples of national best practices and international cooperation; (b) The efforts undertaken by United Nations bodies, programmes and organizations, including the United Nations Children’s Fund, the United Nations Population Fund, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the United Nations Development Fund for Women, to address the issue of traditional or customary practices affecting the health of women and girls, and encourages them to continue to coordinate their efforts; (c) The work carried out by the Special Ambassador for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation of the United Nations Population Fund and the fact that she has been invited to various countries, as well as the establishment, by the United Nations Population Fund, of a trust fund to support her work; (d) The work carried out by the Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children and other non-governmental and community organizations, including women’s organizations, in raising awareness of the harmful effects of such practices, in particular of female genital mutilation; 4 A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. 5 Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. 6 See A/CONF.169/16/Rev.1. 7 Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. 8 A/53/354. /...