STRASBOURG - The European Parliament adopted a report condemning the act of female genital mutilation, calling for a zero-tolerance policy across the EU.
The resolution begins by referring to a drop in the prevalence rates of FGM as a result of decisive actions and awareness-raising, and encourages all actors to continue their efforts in order to both maintain and add to this progress. It considers this recent momentum as an opportunity for international organisations and states to step up their efforts to collaborate in order to achieve total abandonment of this practice, as well as any others which are harmful to young girls, potentially causing them to suffer physical, psychological and emotional consequences for life.
The report recognises that an important difference between FGM and other forms of gender-based violence is that the perpetrators are rarey ill-intentioned, as this is largely a cultural issue. It stresses that while this is no justification, it must be taken into account. It also acknowledges that while FGM is unfortunately only one of the many violations against women’s rights that need to be combatted, which include: lack of access to education for girls, including comprehensive sex education, lack of employment for women, the inability to own or inherit property, forced or child marriage, sexual and physical violence, and lack of quality healthcare - including sexual and reproductive health and rights services.
Finally, the European Parliament “calls on the Commission and Member States to mainstream the prevention of FGM into all sectors, especially health including sexual and reproductive health, social work, asylum, education including sex education, law enforcement, justice, child protection, and media and communication.”