E/CN.4/2002/73/Add.2 page 80 275 This applies to the United Arab Emirates (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1998/11, para. 100). 276 See, inter alia, the examples of India and China (A/53/354, paras. 41 and 43). 277 With national offices established in 26 countries of Africa, the Committee has implemented programmes at the grass-roots level, including the provision of training for traditional birth attendants and campaigns to raise awareness of the adverse consequences of certain traditional practices (A/53/354, para. 48). 278 See the example of the regional symposium organized in Banjul, Gambia, from 20 to 24 July 1998 by the Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1999/14, paras. 47 to 49). 279 See the study by the Special Rapporteur on religious intolerance (note 265 above), in particular paras. 137 ff. 280 Report of CEDAW (A/54/38/Rev.1, para. 315, China; and p. 55, para. 95, Georgia). 281 In some States, certain practices such as female genital mutilation are punished as crimes and even classified as torture (articles 243 and 244 of the Portuguese Criminal Code). Under other laws (Finland), female excision is punished as a crime irrespective of whether it is performed abroad. In Germany, the law does not recognize any special circumstances such as religious grounds or the consent of the person concerned. See report on traditional practices … (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2000/17, para. 11). 282 Tomasevski (note 47 above). 283 Ibid. 284 See paragraph 78 above. 285 In collaboration with WHO and UNFPA, UNICEF has addressed issues such as female genital mutilation, female infanticide, selective abortion and the customs of devi and devadasi in India and Nepal (A/53/354, paras. 28 ff.). 286 See conclusions of the Burkina Faso seminar (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1999/14, para. 30). See also paragraph 78 and note 81 above. 287 Note 27 above, p. 13. 288 This is what was done by the Human Rights Committee and CEDAW in their aforementioned comments. See chapter I, paragraphs 49 ff. and 69 ff. 289 Many States have not ratified the Women’s Convention, including Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, the Sudan, the United States of America and the Vatican City State.