[Brussels,
03 February 2012] Ahead of the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female
Genital Mutilation (FGM), February 6, Amnesty International and the European
Women’s Lobby challenged the European Union to lay out its vision and
commitment for ending female genital mutilation and other forms of violence
against women. Since 2010, when the European Commission committed to adopt a
strategy on violence against women, including FGM, there has been no coherent,
structured attempt to address this human rights violation.
The European Parliament estimates
that 500,000 women and girls living in Europe are
suffering from the lifelong consequences of FGM and another 180,000 are at risk
each year. Most often, girls are taken abroad during their summer vacation and
are forced to undergo FGM to ensure their marriageability or social status.
While some member states have laws and other policy measures in place, there is
a wide disparity amongst the states.
France,
Sweden, the United
Kingdom and other countries where FGM has
been criminalised for over a decade continue to grapple with FGM. “This shows
that legislation is not the master key that will lock all doors to this human
rights violation. The EU must take a holistic approach which engages community
members to ensure girls are protected and their families are not stigmatized”,
said Dr Christine Loudes, Director, END FGM European Campaign, led by Amnesty
International.
Violence against women, of which
FGM is one of the gravest examples, is a widespread structural phenomenon:
almost every other woman in the EU will experience some form of violence during
her lifetime; one in five will fall victim to domestic violence; one in ten
will be raped or forced into sexual acts.
Amnesty International and
European Women’s Lobby believe that one step that each member state and the EU
can already take to protect women and girls against FGM and other forms of
violence is to sign and ratify the Council of Europe Convention on preventing
and combating violence against women and domestic violence.
“Ending all forms of violence
against women, including FGM, should be a priority, especially in times of
crisis. We know that the EU has the means to end violence against women and
deliver a strategy to guarantee all women the right to live free from violence;
so what are we waiting for?”, asked Cecile Greboval, EWL Secretary General.