DAKAR, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Senegalese women of Malicounda Bambara village in Thies region situated 70 km southeast of the Senegalese capital of Dakar, are set to celebrate on Aug. 4 and Aug. 5, in presence of representatives from more than 2,300 African villages, the 10th anniversary since their public declaration denouncing female genital mutilation (FMG), according to a press statement issued Friday.

    The 35 women pioneers of the movement who had organized on July31, 1997, the first public declaration denouncing FGM, will receive in Malicounda Bambara village delegations from Senegal, Guinea and Burkina Faso, who have made the same choice by joining the movement against FGM, according to the statement.

    Participants during the ceremony will launch a campaign for total eradication of FGM in Senegal and the reduction of this practice on the entire African continent by the year 2015.

    Senegal is among the first African countries to have totally eradicated FGM, says the statement, adding its example is a great inspiration to many communities on the entire African continent.

    The historic Malicounda Bambara declaration has made nearly half of 5,000 villages to reduce FGM and the number of early marriages in Senegal. FGM is a traditional practice which harms the health of between 2 million to 3 million girls and women each year.

    This commemorative ceremony is organized by an NGO called Tostan in collaboration with other partners including Senegalese government, the U.N. children's cund UNICEF, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), World Health Organization (WHO), World Population Council and other NGOs.