Brussels, 6-3-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Ahead of International Women’s Day on 8 March, European Commission Vice-President Viviane Reding and Commissioner Cecilia Malmström have today joined human rights campaigners to call for zero tolerance for female genital mutilation (FGM). The Commission organised a high-level roundtable event to discuss how the European Union can help Member States to eradicate the practice – thought to have affected several hundred thousand women in the EU. The Commissioners were joined by Members of the European Parliament and the world’s leading anti-FGM campaigners, including ‘desert flower’ Waris Dirie, Khady Koita and Chantal Compaoré – First Lady of Burkina Faso.
In parallel, today the Commission launched a public consultation calling for views on how best to develop measures at EU level to fight female genital mutilation. The consultation will run until 30 May 2013. The Commission has also announced EUR 3.7 million in funding to support Member States’ activities to raise awareness of violence against women and a further EUR 11.4 million for NGOs and others working with victims.
“Today the European Commission is joining forces with some very inspiring women to call for zero tolerance for female genital mutilation. This is an extremely harmful practice which violates the human rights of women and girls. The EU will fight to end female genital mutilation – not only on International Women’s Day, but on all 365 days of the year,” said Vice-President Reding, the EU’s Justice Commissioner.”I call on everyone with an insight in this area to share their views on how to best tackle female genital mutilation.”
“Female genital mutilation is a severe violation of human rights. The risk of being subjected to this practice should constitute a valid reason for granting asylum or humanitarian protection. In our asylum legislation, we are paying particular attention to women and girls who are seeking asylum due to the threat of physical mutilation. Women and girls who are at risk of female genital mutilation, or parents who fear persecution because they refuse to have their child undergo this practice should be given suitable protection in Europe,” said Cecilia Malmström, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs.
New report on FGM
Today’s high-level roundtable discussion on FGM comes as the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) releases a new report on female genital mutilation in the EU, following a request by Vice-President Reding. The report concludes that FGM is by nature a global, transnational phenomenon. While there is no hard evidence of FGM being practised in the EU, thousands of women and girls living in the EU have been subjected to the practice either before moving to the EU or while travelling outside the EU.
The report finds that there are victims, or potential victims, in at least 13 EU countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Spain, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden and the UK. However, it also highlights the need for rigorous data as a basis for tackling the problem.
Eradicating FGM will require a range of actions focusing on data collection, prevention, protection of girls at risk, prosecution of perpetrators and provision of services for victims, says the report. Victims of FGM can rely on protection under the EU’s Victims Rights Directive, adopted on 4 October 2012, which explicitly refers to FGM as a form of gender-based violence (IP/12/1066).
But while all EU Member States and Croatia have legal provisions in place to prosecute the perpetrators of FGM, either under general or specific criminal laws, prosecutions are very rare. This is due to diffculties detecting cases, gathering sufficient evidence, a reluctance to report a crime and, above all, a lack of knowledge about female genital mutilation.
EIGE has therefore also published a report identifying a series of good practices from nine Member States in combating FGM. The report gives examples of successful policies and projects, including:
- A Dutch project to prevent FGM by bringing together healthcare professionals, police, schools, child protection services and migrant organisations;
- A French organisation which focuses on bringing prosecutions in cases of FGM by acting as a ‘civil party’ in trials;
- A specialised health service in the UK with 15 clinics that cater to the specific needs of women affected by FGM.
Background
Female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures involving partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons, as defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
FGM is carried out for cultural, religious and/or social reasons on young girls between infancy and age 15. FGM constitutes a form of child abuse and violence against women and girls; it has severe short-term and long-term physical and psychological consequences.
In the EU countries where women victims or girls and women at risk of FGM live, the practice mainly occurs during a stay in the country of origin and very rarely in the territory of the EU.
The Commission adopted a ‘Strategy for equality between women and men 2010-2015’ on 21 September 2010, setting out a series of priorities for gender equality, including ending gender-based violence. The strategy included a specific reference to female genital mutilation. On 6 February 2013 which is the International Day against Female Genital Mutilation, the European Commission reaffirmed its strong commitment to eradicating this extremely harmful practice (MEMO/13/67).
For more information
European Commission – Ending gender-based violence:
http://ec.europa.eu/justice/gender-violence
Report by the European Institute for Gender Equality – Female genital mutilation in the EU & Croatia
Public consultation –
http://ec.europa.eu/justice/newsroom/gender-equality/opinion/130306_en.htm
Homepage of Vice-President Viviane Reding, EU Justice Commissioner:
Facebook: Send your ‘Zero Tolerance Photos’:
COMM-SOCIAL-MEDIA-TEAM@ec.europa.eu
Twitter Hashtag: #zeroFGM
Contacts :
Mina Andreeva (+32 2 299 13 82) Michele Cercone (+32 2 298 09 63) Natasha Bertaud (+32 2 296 74 56) Tove Ernst (+32 2 298 67 64) |
Annex 1: Estimated number of women victims, potential victims, and girls at risk of FGM (where studies are available)
Country | Criminal law provisions against FGM | Estimated no. of women with FGM (date of study) | Estimated no. of girls at risk of FGM | Estimated no. of women from FGM-affected regions living in the EU (where no FGM-specific data is available) |
Belgium | Specific | 6,260 (2011) | 1,975 | |
Bulgaria | General | No data available | No data available | |
Czech Republic | General | No data available | No data available | |
Denmark | Specific | No data available | No data available | 15,116 |
Germany | General | 19,000 (2007) | 4,000 | |
Estonia | General | No data available | No data available | |
Ireland | Specific | 3,170 (2011) | No data available | |
Greece | General | 1,239 (2006) | No data available | |
Spain | Specific | No data available | No data available | 30,439 |
France | General | 61,000 (2007) | No data available | |
Italy | Specific | 35,000 (2009) | 1,000 | |
Cyprus | Specific | No data available | No data available | 1,500 |
Latvia | General | No data available | No data available | |
Lithuania | General | No data available | No data available | |
Luxembourg | General | No data available | No data available | |
Hungary | General | 170-350 (2012) | No data available | |
Malta | General | No data available | No data available | |
Netherlands | General | 29,210 (2013) | 40-50 each year | |
Austria | Specific | 8,000 (2000) | No data available | |
Poland | General | No data available | No data available | |
Portugal | General | No data available | No data available | 9,263 |
Romania | General | No data available | No data available | |
Slovenia | General | No data available | No data available | |
Slovakia | General | No data available | No data available | |
Finland | General | No data available | No data available | 4,400 |
Sweden | Specific | No data available | No data available | 91,420 |
UK | General | 65,790 (2007) | 30,000 | |
Croatia | Specific | No data available | No data available |
Source: EIGE: Female genital mutilation in the European Union and Croatia, except from the Netherlands: Marja Exterkate – Female Genital Mutilation in the Netherlands. Prevalence, incidence and determinants (2013)
Annex 2: Support organisations for victims of FGM in the Member States
Name of the organisation | Country | Website |
Beratungsstelle für sexuell missbrauchte Mädchen und junge Frauen | Austria | http://www.maedchenberatung.at/ |
MAIZ – Autonomes Integrationszentrum von und für Migrantinnen | Austria | http://www.maiz.at/ |
Miteinander Lernen – Birlikte Öğrenelim | Austria | http://www.miteinlernen.at |
Netzwerk österreichischer Frauen- & Mädchenberatungsstellen |
Austria | http://www.frauenberatenfrauen.at/ |
Verein Orient-Express – Beratungs-, Bildungs- und Kulturinitiative für Frauen |
Austria | www.orientexpress-wien.com |
Viele – Verein für interkulturellen Ansatz in Erziehung, Lernen und Entwicklung | Austria | http://www.verein-viele.at |
ZEBRA Zentrum zur sozialmedizinischen, rechtlichen und kulturellen Betreuung von Ausländern und Ausländerinnen in Österreich | Austria | http://zebra.or.at |
Groupe pour l’Abolition des Mutilations Sexuelle féminines asbl (GAMS) | Belgium | www.gams.be |
INTACT | Belgium | www.intact-association.org |
INTACT | Belgium | www.intact-association.org |
Български център за джендър изследвания | Bulgaria | www.bgrf.org |
Unit for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture, Humanitarian Affairs Unit of Future Worlds Center | Cyprus | http://www.urvt.org/ |
Asante Kenya, nadační fond. | Czech Republic | www.asantekenya |
Amnesty International Denmark | Denmark | www.amnesty.dk |
Femmes de la terre | France | www.femmesdelaterre.org |
Tostan France | France | www.tostanfrance.com |
Frauenrecht is Menschenrecht | Germany | www.fim-frauenrecht.de |
Aktion Weißes Friedensband e.v.nein nein | Germany | www.friedensband.de |
Amnesty International Deutschland | Germany | www.amnesty.de |
Deutsches Netzwerk zur Überwindung weiblicher Genitalverstümmelung | Germany | www.netzwerk-integra.de |
Internationale Aktion gegen die Beschneidung von Mädchen und Frauen e.V. | Germany | www.intact-ev.de |
Terre des Femmes – Menschenrechte für Frauen e.V. | Germany | www.frauenrechte.de |
Stop Mutilation e.V. – Gegen die Beschneidung von Mädchen und Frauen in Europa und Afrika | Germany | www.stop-mutilation.org |
Target e.V., Ruediger Nehbarg | Germany | www.target-nehberg.de |
AkiDwA : Akina Dada Wa Africa | Ireland | www.akidwa.ie |
Irish Refugee Council | Ireland | http://www.irishrefugeecouncil.ie/ |
Somali Human Rights Advocacy Group in Ireland | Ireland | |
Vincentian Refugee Centre | Ireland | http://www.vrc.ie/ |
Fundacja Inicjatyw Psychospołecznych (suspended) | Poland | www.fundacjafip.org.pl (not valid any longer) |
Associação Para o Planeamento da Família | Portugal | www.apf.pt |
Associação Portuguesa de Apoio à Vítima | Portugal | http://www.apav.pt |
Instituto Marquês Valle Flor | Portugal | http://www.imvf.org/ |
Associação de Mulheres Contra a Violência | Portugal | www.amcv.org.pt |
Africa Advocacy Foundation | United Kingdom | http://www.a-af.org/ |
Birmingham & Solihull Women’s Aid | United Kingdom | http://www.bswaid.org/ |
Black Association of Women Step Out | United Kingdom | www.bawso.org.uk |
Child Rights Information Network | United Kingdom | www.crin.org |
Daughters of Eve | United Kingdom | http://www.dofeve.org/ |
Equality Now | United Kingdom/Kenya/USA | http://www.equalitynow.org |
FGM National Clinical Group | United Kingdom | http://www.fgmnationalgroup.org/contact_us.htm |
Manor Gardens Centre | United Kingdom | www.manorgardenscentre.org |
Southall Community Alliance | United Kingdom | http://southallcommunityalliance.org/ |
WomenKind World Wide | United Kingdom | http://www.womankind.org.uk |
Source: EIGE
- Astor Asset Management 3 Ltd: Salinas Pliego Incumple Préstamo de $110 Millones USD y Viola Regulaciones Mexicanas
- Astor Asset Management 3 Ltd: Salinas Pliego Verstößt gegen Darlehensvertrag über 110 Mio. USD und Mexikanische Wertpapiergesetze
- ChargeEuropa zamyka rundę finansowania, której przewodził fundusz Shift4Good tym samym dokonując historycznej francuskiej inwestycji w polski sektor elektromobilności
- Strengthening EU Protections: Robert Szustkowski calls for safeguarding EU citizens’ rights to dignity
- Digi Communications NV announces the release of H1 2024 Financial Results
- Digi Communications N.V. announces that conditional stock options were granted to a director of the Company’s Romanian Subsidiary
- Digi Communications N.V. announces Investors Call for the presentation of the H1 2024 Financial Results
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the conclusion of a share purchase agreement by its subsidiary in Portugal
- Digi Communications N.V. Announces Rating Assigned by Fitch Ratings to Digi Communications N.V.
- Digi Communications N.V. announces significant agreements concluded by the Company’s subsidiaries in Spain
- SGW Global Appoints Telcomdis as the Official European Distributor for Motorola Nursery and Motorola Sound Products
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the availability of the instruction regarding the payment of share dividend for the 2023 financial year
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the exercise of conditional share options by the executive directors of the Company, for the year 2023, as approved by the Company’s Ordinary General Shareholders’ Meetings from 18th May 2021 and 28th December 2022
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the granting of conditional stock options to Executive Directors of the Company based on the general shareholders’ meeting approval from 25 June 2024
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the OGMS resolutions and the availability of the approved 2023 Annual Report
- Czech Composer Tatiana Mikova Presents Her String Quartet ‘In Modo Lidico’ at Carnegie Hall
- SWIFTT: A Copernicus-based forest management tool to map, mitigate, and prevent the main threats to EU forests
- WickedBet Unveils Exciting Euro 2024 Promotion with Boosted Odds
- Museum of Unrest: a new space for activism, art and design
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the conclusion of a Senior Facility Agreement by companies within Digi Group
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the agreements concluded by Digi Romania (formerly named RCS & RDS S.A.), the Romanian subsidiary of the Company
- Green Light for Henri Hotel, Restaurants and Shops in the “Alter Fischereihafen” (Old Fishing Port) in Cuxhaven, opening Summer 2026
- Digi Communications N.V. reports consolidated revenues and other income of EUR 447 million, adjusted EBITDA (excluding IFRS 16) of EUR 140 million for Q1 2024
- Digi Communications announces the conclusion of Facilities Agreements by companies from Digi Group
- Digi Communications N.V. Announces the convocation of the Company’s general shareholders meeting for 25 June 2024 for the approval of, among others, the 2023 Annual Report
- Digi Communications NV announces Investors Call for the presentation of the Q1 2024 Financial Results
- Digi Communications intends to propose to shareholders the distribution of dividends for the fiscal year 2023 at the upcoming General Meeting of Shareholders, which shall take place in June 2024
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the availability of the Romanian version of the 2023 Annual Report
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the availability of the 2023 Annual Report
- International Airlines Group adopts Airline Economics by Skailark ↗️
- BevZero Spain Enhances Sustainability Efforts with Installation of Solar Panels at Production Facility
- Digi Communications N.V. announces share transaction made by an Executive Director of the Company with class B shares
- BevZero South Africa Achieves FSSC 22000 Food Safety Certification
- Digi Communications N.V.: Digi Spain Enters Agreement to Sell FTTH Network to International Investors for Up to EUR 750 Million
- Patients as Partners® Europe Announces the Launch of 8th Annual Meeting with 2024 Keynotes and Topics
- driveMybox continues its international expansion: Hungary as a new strategic location
- Monesave introduces Socialised budgeting: Meet the app quietly revolutionising how users budget
- Digi Communications NV announces the release of the 2023 Preliminary Financial Results
- Digi Communications NV announces Investors Call for the presentation of the 2023 Preliminary Financial Results
- Lensa, един от най-ценените търговци на оптика в Румъния, пристига в България. Първият шоурум е открит в София
- Criando o futuro: desenvolvimento da AENO no mercado de consumo em Portugal
- Digi Communications N.V. Announces the release of the Financial Calendar for 2024
- Customer Data Platform Industry Attracts New Participants: CDP Institute Report
- eCarsTrade annonce Dirk Van Roost au poste de Directeur Administratif et Financier: une décision stratégique pour la croissance à venir
- BevZero Announces Strategic Partnership with TOMSA Desil to Distribute equipment for sustainability in the wine industry, as well as the development of Next-Gen Dealcoholization technology
- Digi Communications N.V. announces share transaction made by a Non-Executive Director of the Company with class B shares
- Digi Spain Telecom, the subsidiary of Digi Communications NV in Spain, has concluded a spectrum transfer agreement for the purchase of spectrum licenses
- Эксперт по торговле акциями Сергей Левин запускает онлайн-мастер-класс по торговле сырьевыми товарами и хеджированию
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the conclusion by Company’s Portuguese subsidiary of a framework agreement for spectrum usage rights
- North Texas Couple Completes Dream Purchase of Ouray’s Iconic Beaumont Hotel
- Предприниматель и филантроп Михаил Пелег подчеркнул важность саммита ООН по Целям устойчивого развития 2023 года в Нью-Йорке
- Digi Communications NV announces the release of the Q3 2023 Financial Results
- IQ Biozoom Innovates Non-Invasive Self-Testing, Empowering People to Self-Monitor with Laboratory Precision at Home
- BevZero Introduces Energy Saving Tank Insulation System to Europe under name “BevClad”
- Motorvision Group reduces localization costs using AI dubbing thanks to partnering with Dubformer
- Digi Communications NV Announces Investors Call for the Q3 2023 Financial Results
- Jifiti Granted Electronic Money Institution (EMI) License in Europe
- Предприниматель Михаил Пелег выступил в защиту образования и грамотности на мероприятии ЮНЕСКО, посвящённом Международному дню грамотности
- VRG Components Welcomes New Austrian Independent Agent
- Digi Communications N.V. announces that Digi Spain Telecom S.L.U., its subsidiary in Spain, and abrdn plc have completed the first investment within the transaction having as subject matter the financing of the roll out of a Fibre-to-the-Home (“FTTH”) network in Andalusia, Spain
- Продюсер Михаил Пелег, как сообщается, работает над новым сериалом с участием крупной голливудской актрисы
- Double digit growth in global hospitality industry for Q4 2023
- ITC Deploys Traffic Management Solution in Peachtree Corners, Launches into United States Market
- Cyviz onthult nieuwe TEMPEST dynamische controlekamer in Benelux, Nederland
- EU-Funded CommuniCity Launches its Second Open Call
- Astrologia pode dar pistas sobre a separação de Sophie Turner e Joe Jonas
- La astrología puede señalar las razones de la separación de Sophie Turner y Joe Jonas
- Empowering Europe against infectious diseases: innovative framework to tackle climate-driven health risks
- Montachem International Enters Compostable Materials Market with Seaweed Resins Company Loliware
- Digi Communications N.V. announces that its Belgian affiliated companies are moving ahead with their operations
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the exercise of conditional share options by an executive director of the Company, for the year 2022, as approved by the Company’s Ordinary General Shareholders’ Meeting from 18 May 2021
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the availability of the instruction regarding the payment of share dividend for the 2022 financial year
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the availability of the 2022 Annual Report
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the general shareholders’ meeting resolutions from 18 August 2023 approving amongst others, the 2022 Annual Accounts
- Русские эмигранты усиливают призывы «Я хочу, чтобы вы жили» через искусство
- BevZero Introduces State-of-the-Art Mobile Flash Pasteurization Unit to Enhance Non-Alcoholic Beverage Stability at South Africa Facility
- Russian Emigrés Amplify Pleas of “I Want You to Live” through Art
- Digi Communications NV announces the release of H1 2023 Financial Results
- Digi Communications NV Announces Investors Call for the H1 2023 Financial Results
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the convocation of the Company’s general shareholders meeting for 18 August 2023 for the approval of, among others, the 2022 Annual Report
- “Art Is Our Weapon”: Artists in Exile Deploy Their Talents in Support of Peace, Justice for Ukraine
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the availability of the 2022 Annual Financial Report
- “AmsEindShuttle” nuevo servicio de transporte que conecta el aeropuerto de Eindhoven y Ámsterdam
- Un nuovo servizio navetta “AmsEindShuttle” collega l’aeroporto di Eindhoven ad Amsterdam
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the conclusion of an amendment agreement to the Facility Agreement dated 26 July 2021, by the Company’s Spanish subsidiary
- Digi Communications N.V. announces an amendment of the Company’s 2023 financial calendar
- iGulu F1: Brewing Evolution Unleashed
- Почему интерактивная «Карта мира» собрала ключевые антивоенные сообщества россиян по всему миру и становится для них важнейшим инструментом
- Hajj Minister meets EU ambassadors to Saudi Arabia
- Online Organizing Platform “Map of Peace” Emerges as Key Tool for Diaspora Activists
- Digi Communications N.V. announces that conditional stock options were granted to executive directors of the Company based on the general shareholders’ meeting approval from 18 May 2021
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the release of the Q1 2023 financial results
- AMBROSIA – A MULTIPLEXED PLASMO-PHOTONIC BIOSENSING PLATFORM FOR RAPID AND INTELLIGENT SEPSIS DIAGNOSIS AT THE POINT-OF-CARE
- Digi Communications NV announces Investors Call for the Q1 2023 Financial Results presentation
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the amendment of the Company’s 2023 financial calendar
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the conclusion of two Facilities Agreements by the Company’s Romanian subsidiary
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the conclusion of a Senior Facility Agreement by the Company’s Romanian subsidiary
- Patients as Partners Europe Returns to London and Announces Agenda Highlights
- GRETE PROJECT RESULTS PRESENTED TO TEXTILE INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS AT INTERNATIONAL CELLULOSE FIBRES CONFERENCE
- Digi Communications N.V. announces Digi Spain Telecom S.L.U., its subsidiary in Spain, entered into an investment agreement with abrdn to finance the roll out of a Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) network in Andalusia, Spain
- XSpline SPA / University of Linz (Austria): the first patient has been enrolled in the international multicenter clinical study for the Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy DeliveRy guided by non-Invasive electrical and VEnous anatomy assessment (CRT-DRIVE)
- Franklin Junction Expands Host Kitchen® Network To Europe with Digital Food Hall Pioneer Casper
- Unihertz a dévoilé un nouveau smartphone distinctif, Luna, au MWC 2023 de Barcelone
- Unihertz Brachte ein Neues, Markantes Smartphone, Luna, auf dem MWC 2023 in Barcelona
- Editor's pick archive....