The thematic session No.1 on " after the Cairo declaration: develop a legal and political environment for the eradication of FGM" reiterated its support to the Cairo Declaration. Various speakers presented the their country profile highlighting success stories and outstanding challenges and agreed on the following summary :

The Cairo declaration was endorsed by 28 participating Afro-Arab countries .They agreed to periodically review progress achieved towards its implementation .The Nairobi international conference is the first follow up action.

Cairo Declaration states that "Outreach efforts by Civil Society & Governments aimed at changing perceptions and attitudes regarding FGM should PRECEDE or ACCOMPANY legislation on FGM. The prevention and the abandonment of FGM can be achieved only through a comprehensive approach promoting behavior changes using legislative measures as a pivotal role.

Participants agreed on five Key areas for action:
1 Conduct Situation analysis of FGM in affected countries covering prevelance, Law and its enforcement' policy and programs; awareness level; prevailing attitudes, level of political commitment. lessons learned role of the civil society and informal leaders.
2. Advocacy:Sensitization; mobilization and awareness raising of all segments of the society including; political leadership; religious leaders; professionals; doctors, teachers service providers; lawyers; the judiciary;media families and the youth themselves. Adovacy efforts should provide an environment supportive of the law enforcement
3. Enacting an adequate legal framework to criminalize and at the same time encourage the eradication of FGM and ensure the enforcement of the law.
4. Genuine partnership between governments and the civil society.
5. Government commitment to allocate adequate resources for the programs to eradicate FGM.

Participants agreed on the following recommendation:

 Governments should demonstrate their commitment to implement the measures contained in the Cairo declaration
 States suffering from FGM are invited to formulate a comprehensive national plan of action with a bound time frame to prevent and protect girls at risk of the FGM; and allocation of adequate resources for ensuring its implementation.
 Devise an effective mechanism of monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the plan of action.
 Donor countries and organizations should support technically and financially countries that suffer from FGM and has demonstrated a strong political commitment to abandon the practice.
 In view of the slow process of signature and ratification of the Maputo Protocol; African countries are invited to organize regional and subregional; workshops to find ways and means of making the protocol widely acceptable.