Using the case of female genital cutting (FGC), the article addresses the question of when local attitudes and practices conform to international norms. One theoretical perspective links attitudes in developing countries to control over the physical environment, arguing that greater control over nature is associated with the rejection of traditional authority and the acceptance of modern science. A competing perspective emphasizes the importance of western scripts as a source of individual identity. The authors use hierarchical models to analyze Demographic and Health Survey data on attitudes toward, and the practice of, female genital cutting in five African countries with anti-FGC policies. They find that institutions that carry 'modern' scripts -education, college, mass media and female employment -all reduce the probability that women will favor the continuation of FGC or 'circumcision' of their daughters. The effects of factors associated with control over nature were more mixed. The study also finds that Christian women are more likely to express negative attitudes toward FGC.

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The United Nations Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (Sub-Commission) met at the Palais des Nations, the European Office of the UN in Geneva, Switzerland, from 30July through 17 August 2001 for its fifty-third session.' The Sub-Commission is a subsidiary body of the UN Commission on Human Rights (Commission)" and is comprised of26 independent human rights experts, elected by the Commission, who act in their personal capacity rather than as government representatives. Under the principle of geographic distribution, the Sub-Commission Fredrikson and Byron Professor of Law,University of Minnesota; Member, UN Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. The authors would like to thank Penny Parker, Joe 'Chip' Pitts III, D. Christopher Decker, and AnneJohnston for their excellent work and indispensable help during the 2001 Sub-Commission session. Legal Officer, Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE);J.D. cum laude,

This article summarises the 57 th session ofthe United Nations Commission on Human Rights (Commission). For those readers interesting in greater detail of certain or all aspects of this year's session please refer to the footnotes which provide citations to the relevant Commission documents. The Commission convened for its 57 th session in Geneva, Switzerland from 19 March to 27 April 200 1. The Commission is composed of53 member-governments and meets annually to discuss and take action on human rights situations around the world. I In addition to the delegations representing the member-governments, over 3,000 delegates from observer States, intergovernmental organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) participated at this year's session. The mandate of the Commission includes standard setting as well as human rights monitoring. The Commission is guided by a Bureau of five persons elected from its membership-one each from the five geographic regions.? In recent years the Commission has reduced efforts at standard setting and has turned its attention toward implementation. To this end, the Commission has increasingly addressed the needs of States by providing advisory services and technical assistance. Mary Robinson, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights opened the Commission's six-week session. She reflected upon the past accomplishments of both the Commission and the Office ofthe High Commissioner, but also noted that serious challenges remained with respect to the observance ofhuman rights around the world. In her statement, Ms. Robinson stressed that the dominant theme for this year's session and her Office is the stewardship of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. To this end, the High Commissioner stated that the World Conference is ofutrnost significance .. Mr. Thiele, who received his JD cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School, is a Legal Officer for the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE) and an independent human rights consultant. Dr. Gomez, who received her Ph.D. from the University ofMinnesota, is Research Officer for the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE), Country Specialist on El Salvador and Nicaragua for Amnesty International-USA, and an independent human rights consultant. The States making up the Commission in 2001 are Algeria,