Zero tolerance for female genital mutilation
● 500,000 women living in the EU are estimated to have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM)
● MEPs call for cross-sectorial cooperation to tackle this issue
● Preventive actions and training for relevant actors are essential
The Commission and member states must step up their efforts to help end female genital mutilation, said MEPs in a resolution voted on Wednesday.
After a debate in plenary on Tuesday (on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation - FGM), MEPs adopted a resolution on Wednesday calling on the Commission and member states to include FGM prevention measures in all policy areas (including health, social work, education, justice, etc.), to step up cross-sector cooperation, to help build bridges between organisations working with communities and to guarantee strong preventive action in refugee camps.
MEPs also voice concern that, although criminal law protects women from FGM in all member states, only a handful of cases are brought to justice. Training schemes are especially needed for those responsible for detecting, investigating and prosecuting cases of FMG.
Finally, MEPs calls on those member states which have not yet ratified the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women to do so without delay, so that the EU’s commitment complies with international standards promoting an integrated approach to ending violence against women and FGM.
Source: European Parliament
- 397 reads
