Brussels, 06/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 6 February - International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) - MEPs called for a European directive to fight against FGM globally and in the EU, where it is reported that 500,000 women are also victims.
MEPs adopted a resolution by 274 votes to 240, with 15 abstentions, calling on the European Commission for a legislative framework as quickly as possible to prevent all violence to women - including FGM - as well as new action plans to eradicate the practice of FGM. In addition, MEPs suggest that 2016 be designated European Year for the eradication of violence to women and girls.
On 6 February, MEPs also held a debate with the Commission, asking it directly what it intends to do in the face of this practice - which takes place in at least 13 European countries. The author of the resolution, Ines Cristina Zuber (GUE, Portugal), stated that a directive on FGM “would constitute progress” when 340 million women in the world run the risk of being exposed to this violation of human rights. Zuber called for concrete objectives and precise political commitments to eradicate FGM, to reduce child mortality, to improve maternal health, and to focus on the protection of the sexual and genetic rights of all women.
For the Commission, Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle, who was also in Strasbourg, stated that a strong political engagement had been made in the form of an action plan on this which was adopted last November (on the basis of an earlier Parliament resolution). This commitment is translated in various policies in the EU and also in programmes conducted abroad, Füle said, adding that regional awareness-raising campaigns were being conducted in third countries in 2014.
European Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Viviane Reding reiterated that the EU would fight against FGM 365 days a year and not only on the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation. She calls for the EU to work together to consign FGM to history. “We cannot do it alone. We need to work with member states, the UN, NGOs and with the affected communities”, she said. Reding hopes that the Council will also support the action plan on zero tolerance to FGM. (MD/transl.fl)