Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council. Towards the elimination of female genital mutilation

Every year, millions of women and girls worldwide have their quality of life drastically altered by female genital mutilation (FGM). The procedure involves partial or total removal of their external genitalia or other injury to their genital organs for non-medical reasons. Thousands of women and girls living in Europe are affected or at risk.

FGM is internationally recognised as a violation of women’s human rights and a form of child abuse. In common with other forms of gender-based violence, ‘it constitutes a breach of the fundamental right to life, liberty, security, dignity, equality between women and men, non-discrimination and physical and mental integrity’. It also violates the rights of the child as defined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Fundamental rights and gender equality are core values of the European Union. The EU has long been committed to eliminating gender-based violence and violence against children, as stated in its 'Strategy for equality between women and men’, in the Directive on the rights of victims and in the EU Agenda for the rights of the child.

This Commission Communication on FGM builds on work the EU has done over many years and on a report from the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE). It also benefits from the input of a High-Level Round-Table on FGM, contributions from civil society, international organisations, academics and equality bodies to a public consultation and a written opinion of the EU Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men.

This Communication covers internal as well as external policies and develops a holistic, integrated approach, with particular emphasis on prevention.

EUR-Lex: COM(2013)833: Follow the progress of this communication through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2013:833:FIN

ESO: Background information: International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women: European Commission takes action to combat Female Genital Mutilation http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-international-day-for-elimination-of-violence-against-women-european-commission-takes-action-to-combat-female-genital-mutilation/

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