Amnesty International calls on Europe to end female genital mutilation!

international | eu | press release Friday February 05, 2010 14:52 by Amnesty International - Ireland - Amnesty International

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a violation of human rights affecting an estimated 500,000 women and girls in Europe and putting another 180,000 girls at risk each year. In advance of International Day of Zero Tolerance on FGM on 6 February, Amnesty International Ireland-led END FGM European Campaign has called on European leaders to support its strategy to protect young girls and women affected by FGM.

The five key dimensions through which the EU can protect women and girls living with, or at risk of, FGM are:

- Accessible and appropriate healthcare for women living with FGM in Europe

- Better protection mechanisms to address violence against women and children

- Clear asylum guidelines for those under threat of FGM

- Collection of data on prevalence of FGM in Europe, and

- Mainstreaming of FGM in EU’s dialogues on cooperation with third countries where FGM is prevalent

"This is a unique campaign run in partnership with twelve different organisations across the European who have first hand expertise in the area of FGM. Women who have been directly affected by FGM are actively involved and speaking out. The recommendations we have made to the European Institutions are practical, based on human rights principles and informed by real women's and girls' experiences. Europe must protect women and girls against FGM, this strategy sets out how." said Colm O'Gorman, Executive Director, Amnesty International Ireland.

The issue of FGM is moving up the agenda of the European Institutions. The Stockholm programme, the five year work programme for EU cooperation on justice and home affairs, highlights the need for greater protection of "vulnerable groups ... such as women victims of violence or of genital mutilation".

Two high profile Commissioners-Designate who will be responsible for implementation of the Stockholm Programme, committed themselves to work to protect and prevent FGM in Europe. Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner-Designate for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship declared her commitment to taking "concrete action on FGM”, and committed to adopting a programme for the prevention of FGM, once she takes office in the European Commission. Commissioner-Designate for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström, when questioned about women fleeing from gender based persecution said that people under fear of female genital mutilation “must be given protection in Europe”.
“These political commitments are encouraging. However, FGM is not a 'new' issue. The Parliament first adopted a resolution on FGM in 2001. It is now time for concrete actions at both national and European level” concluded Mr O'Gorman.