Committee Opinion | Doc. 14148 | 04 October 2016
Female genital mutilation in Europe
Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
A. Conclusions of the committee
(open)The Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development supports the report prepared by the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination and congratulates its rapporteur, Ms Béatrice Fresko-Rolfo, on her very comprehensive research concerning female genital mutilation, a most shocking human rights violation, and its continuous presence in Europe. The Social Affairs Committee also congratulates the rapporteur of the main report for specifically treating this important matter and fully agrees to the continuous need to address this urgent human rights issue as pointed out through its own work leading up to Resolution 1952 (2013) and Recommendation 2023 (2013) on children’s right to physical integrity.
The report explores a wide range of topics related to female genital mutilation, including human rights issues, physical and psychological consequences, as well as legal, social and medical responses to female genital mutilation in Europe. With the aim of efficiently fighting this human rights violation, the rapporteur seeks to understand the intricate and interconnected social, political, economic and cultural elements fuelling such practice. The goal of the rapporteur is to address complex challenges to be tackled in order to prevent female genital mutilation in Europe and to ensure appropriate care is supplied to its survivors.
In full agreement with this overall approach, the Social Affairs Committee only wishes to propose a few amendments to strengthen the draft resolution.
B. Proposed amendments
(open)Amendment A (to the draft resolution)
In paragraph 5.1, add at the end of the sentence:
“as well as publicly condemn female genital mutilation, including through relevant legislation;”
Amendment B (to the draft resolution)
In paragraph 5.9, after the words “detect female genital mutilation”, insert the words:
“and how to address it in a culturally sensitive manner without minimising the practice,”
Amendment C (to the draft resolution)
After paragraph 5.9, insert the following sub-paragraph:
“encourage the reporting of women or girls at risk by providing adequate legal protection to professionals where reporting is mandatory;”
Amendment D (to the draft resolution)
At the end of paragraph 5.10, add the words:
“, following a culturally sensitive approach;”
Amendment E (to the draft resolution)
In paragraph 5.11, after “recognise female genital mutilation”, insert the words:
“or well-founded fear of female genital mutilation”
C. Explanatory memorandum by Ms Liliane Maury Pasquier, rapporteur for opinion
(open)![(1)
WHO: Eliminating female
genital mutilation – An interagency statement, Geneva, 2008: <a href='http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/csw52/statements_missions/Interagency_Statement_on_Eliminating_FGM.pdf'>www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/csw52/statements_missions/Interagency_Statement_on_Eliminating_FGM.pdf</a>.](/nw/images/icon_footnoteCall.png)
![(2)
Article
18.3 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by
General Assembly Resolution 2200A (XXI) of 16 December 1966, entry
into force 23 March 1976, in accordance with Article 49: <a href='http://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/ccpr.aspx'>www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/ccpr.aspx</a>.](/nw/images/icon_footnoteCall.png)
![(3)
See paragraph 2.1 of
the explanatory memorandum.](/nw/images/icon_footnoteCall.png)
![(4)
In this connection,
I would invite readers to peruse the explanatory memorandum drawn
up by the rapporteur of that report, Ms Marlene Rupprecht (Doc. 13297), which disproves the assertion made in paragraph 16
of Ms Fresko-Rolfo’s report that any parallel between male circumcision
and female genital mutilation must be dismissed out of hand, and shows
that both are interferences with children’s physical integrity.](/nw/images/icon_footnoteCall.png)
![(5)
WHO: Eliminating female
genital mutilation – An interagency statement, op. cit.](/nw/images/icon_footnoteCall.png)