Annexes to COM(2013)833 - Towards the elimination of female genital mutilation

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dossier COM(2013)833 - Towards the elimination of female genital mutilation.
document COM(2013)833 EN
date November 25, 2013
Agreement, the most comprehensive partnership agreement between the EU and 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. Furthermore, the root causes of FGM are addressed through the EU’s support to broader development objectives for gender equality and women’s empowerment, in particular girls’ and women’s education, their human rights and their sexual and reproductive health.

From 2006 to 2012, 17 projects addressing FGM in 18 countries benefited from EU funding of about EUR 8 million, supporting the efforts of civil society organisations and governments, as well as UN organisations, especially UNICEF.

Overall, there is a positive trend towards gradually abandoning FGM in the 28 countries most affected. To date, 42 countries have passed laws specifically condemning FGM. The build-up of strong engagement by the governments concerned has been crucial in this regard. Regional organisations, particularly the African Union (AU), have played a key role. AU’s Protocol on the rights of women, ratified by 33 countries, stipulates that all necessary legislative and other measures have to be taken to eradicate FGM, including the raising of public awareness, prohibition through legislative measures backed by sanctions, and support to victims.

The EU will continue to take action to promote the FGM being abandoned, guided by documented good practices about what works best to achieve progress. It will base action on historic as well as recent advances in the global consensus on the need to strengthen the world community’s resolve to end FGM. Linking FGM to girls’ and women’s empowerment and education, to their sexual and reproductive health, and to the prevention of early, child and forced marriage have been shown to facilitate abandonment.

Objective:

Promote the worldwide elimination of FGM and enhance protection for women at risk in non-EU countries.

Actions:

The European Commission and the European External Action Services will:

– include FGM in EU annual dialogues with civil society organisations in relevant partner countries;

– draw up a guidance note to Heads of EU Missions in relevant partner countries on FGM;

– integrate FGM in gender and child rights training for EU staff working in EU-delegations in countries affected;

– support a regional campaign on FGM elimination;

– continue to work closely with the African Union and African group at the UN on further initiatives to strengthen the global fight against FGM;

– continue to support advocacy for improved national legislation on FGM where needed;

– continue to support capacity-building initiatives for public and civil society organisations;

– continue to address FGM-related issues in political, human rights and policy dialogues with relevant partner countries, including those where health is a focal sector for cooperation;

– continue to promote enhanced international protection of women at risk of FGM worldwide in its relations with non-EU countries and in international fora.

7. Implementation, monitoring and evaluation

To secure swift progress and to reach the objectives of this Communication, an ad hoc group of the Commission’s inter-service group on gender equality will review, evaluate and monitor actions in this Communication and report annually on measures implemented. Two years after the Communication is adopted, the Commission will evaluate measures put in place and decide on follow-up.

In addition to this internal monitoring, the European Commission will consult NGOs and experts active in this field on a regular basis. Indeed, non-governmental organisations have had and will continue to have a paramount role, protecting girls at risk, providing training to professionals, sensitively raising awareness in the communities affected, developing knowledge, materials and good practice, putting the issue on the agenda of policy makers and building bridges between Europe and countries of origin. Throughout the EU, civil society organisations face common challenges and need opportunities to exchange information and good practice, develop projects and methods, as well as peer-review their work.

Objective:

Implement the actions planned in the Communication and ensure sustained attention for the issue.

Actions:

The European Commission will:

– monitor the timely delivery of actions planned in this Communication and take stock every year around 6 February, the International day of zero tolerance of FGM;

– facilitate the exchange of experience and good practice on FGM issues between NGOs and experts;

– encourage the Presidencies of the Council of the European Union to put FGM on the agenda of meetings of EU Chief Medical Officers and EU Chief Nursing Officers;

– organise a workshop on FGM as part of the 2013 European Forum on the rights of the child;

– put FGM on the agenda of the 2014 informal Member State expert group on the rights of the child.

8. Conclusion

With this Communication on FGM, the European Commission and the European External Action Service reiterate their commitment to combating violence against women and eliminating FGM both within and outside the EU, acknowledging that the linkage between the communities affected in EU and their countries of origin needs to be taken into account.

The EU will keep raising the issue in future and will support those who have been actively engaged in this field for many years, in particular international organisations, Member States and NGOs. The EU will continue to develop policies and implement measures, bearing in mind that FGM has multi-faceted aspects, requiring multi-disciplinary measures and close cooperation with communities in which it is practised.

[1]               As defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

[2]               Council Conclusions on Combating Violence Against Women, and the Provision of Support Services for Victims of Domestic Violence adopted on 6 December 2012.

[3]               UNGA Resolution 67/146 adopted on 20 December 2012.

[4]               COM(2010) 491 final.

[5]               Directive 2012/29/EU establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime.

[6]               COM(2011) 60 final.

[7]               EIGE 2013. Female genital mutilation in the European Union and Croatia.

[8]               Some of the world’s leading anti-FGM campaigners were invited to a round-table on 6 March 2013 to give insights and advice. .

[9]               The results of the consultation are available here: http://ec.europa.eu/justice/newsroom/gender-equality/opinion/130306_en.htm.

[10]             http://ec.europa.eu/justice/gender-equality/other-institutions/advisory-comittee.

[11]             UNICEF Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: A Statistical Overview and Exploration of the Dynamics of Change, New York, 2013.

[12]             European Parliament:Resolution on ending female genital mutilation from 16/06/2012 (2012/2684(RSP)). Note that not all countries have estimates, and such estimates are not necessarily comparable.

[13]             EIGE 2013, Female genital mutilation in the European Union and Croatia.

[14]             Source: EIGE 2013 except from the Netherlands: Exterkate2013 — Female Genital Mutilation in the Netherlands. Prevalence, incidence and determinants. Pharos — Centre of Expertise on Health for Migrants and Refugees.

[15]             Criminal court cases, including convictions, recorded until January 2012 .

[16]             EIGE 2012 — Study to map the current situation and trends of FGM: country reports .

[17]             The person (generally a woman) who performs FGM.

[18]             Decision No 779/2007/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2007 establishing for the period 2007-2013 a specific programme to prevent and combat violence against children, young people and women and to protect victims and groups at risk (Daphne III programme) as part of the General Programme Fundamental Rights and Justice. See also http://ec.europa.eu/justice/grants/programmes/daphne/

[19]             UNICEF 2013.

[20]             According to WHO, infibulation is the narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal. The seal is formed by cutting and repositioning the inner, or outer, labia, with or without removal of the clitoris. The vaginal orifice must be reopened for sexual intercourse and childbirth, a procedure known as "defibulation". In some instances, this is followed by reinfibulation

[21]             EIGE 2013.

[22]             COM(2011) 758 final.

[23]             UNGA Resolution 67/146.

[24]             BE, DK, IE, ES, IT, CY, AT, SE, UK and HR have specific provisions on FGM.

[25]             Directive 2012/29/EU

[26]             Council Directive 2004/83/EC on minimum standards for the qualification and status of third country nationals or stateless persons as refugees or as persons who otherwise need international protection and the content of the protection granted.

[27]             Directive 2011/95/EU on standards for the qualification of third-country nationals or stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection, for a uniform status for refugees or for persons eligible for subsidiary protection, and for the content of the protection granted.

[28]             Directive 2013/32/EU on common procedures for granting and withdrawing international protection.

[29]             Directive 2013/33/EU laying down standards for the reception of applicants for international protection.

[30]             UNGA Resolution 67/146. .