Joint Statement on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation

The European Commission released a joint statement on 6 February 2017 to mark the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, reaffirming the European Union's strong commitment to eradicate the practice.

The statement reminds that FGM is a crime in all member states and that the EU supports countries outside Europe to take action to render it unlawful too.

• Primary Source

European Commission: DG Communication: MEMO/17/215, 06.02.17: Questions and Answers about Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-17-215_en.htm

ESO: Background information: Zero tolerance for female genital mutilation http://www.europeansources.info/record/zero-tolerance-for-female-genital-mutilation/

United Nations: UN News Centre, 06.02.17: UN urges renewed fight to end female genital mutilation as populations grow where practice occurs http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=56111#.WJmThvIhGy8

European Parliament: Press Release, 06.02.17: Malin Björk: 'Female genital mutilation is a way to control women’s bodies and sexuality' http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20170203STO61016/

The Guardian, 06.02.17: Anti-FGM campaign launched in UK to mark global day of opposition https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/feb/06/anti-fgm-campaign-red-triangle-uk-global-day-opposition

BBC News, 06.02.17: FGM victims need medical attention 'every hour' says charity http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-38878298

RFI, 06.02.17: Fight against female genital mutilation progressing in Africa http://en.rfi.fr/africa/20170206-fight-against-female-genitalia-mutilation-must-continue-africa-expert

Human Rights Watch, 06.02.17: An Experience of Pain and Anguish https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/02/06/experience-pain-and-anguish

Population Reference Bureau: Report: Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: Data and Trends, 2017 [PDF] http://www.prb.org/Publications/Articles/2017/Wallchart-Female-Genital-Mutilation-Declining.aspx

Euronews, 06.02.17: Babies targeted as FGM victims get younger, say campaigners http://www.euronews.com/2017/02/06/babies-targeted-as-fgm-victims-get-younger-say-campaigners

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