Brussels, 25/11/2013 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is providing itself with better resources to introduce a zero tolerance approach to female genital mutilation (FGM). There are already 500,000 victims of this practice in the EU. On Monday 25 November, an action plan was presented during International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women by European Commissioner for Fundamental Rights Viviane Reding and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton.
The European Commission has already begun to mobilise a movement against FGM by involving activists and opening a public consultation on the issue earlier this year. Commissioner Reding explained that “in its action plan, the Commission is reiterating its commitment to combating violence against women and eliminating FGM, both in the EU and at global level”. She also said that she was counting on the cooperation of member states, the UN, NGOs and the communities concerned to ensure that “we will be able to consign female genital mutilation to history”.
The action plan involves a series of initiatives in which progress and results are monitored annually. This will contain indicators to ascertain the number of victims or potential victims. A section on prevention also seeks to raise awareness about the problem and better inform the medical profession about this issue. More effective prosecution by member states of existing national laws will strengthen the criminal section. Asylum rules will also be strengthened in an effort to guarantee protection for young girls who are at risk.
European action will be part of a global framework. FGM should be included on bilateral dialogue agenda in countries where it is still practised and be tackled in collaboration with the African Union and the United Nations. It will also involve enhancing national legislations and encouraging and training EU delegation personnel about the issue and supporting initiatives by civil society. Ashton also provided assurances that tackling feminine genital mutilation would also be included in the EU's external policy and that “the EU's tools and resources, political and economic, will be used to promote initiatives and support laws to help create a world where no girl will have to face this cruel and intolerable practice”. (MD/transl.fl)