Female genital mutilation must be stamped out says MEP
March 24, 2009 3:50 PM
West Midlands MEP Liz Lynne has today strongly welcomed a vote in the European Parliament calling for Member States to do more to end the horrific practice of genital mutilation.
The LibDem Euro MP said that she was sickened that even in the UK many women and young girls are being subjected to such horrendous physical abuse and called on the UK Government to pay heed to the European Parliament's report and bring those who perform the so called 'operations' to justice.
Female Genital Mutilation is a common tradition in many African countries. It involves the cutting and removal of girls' clitoris as well as the removal of part or all of the labia. In some instances the vagina is also sown up leaving only a small opening for urine and menstrual blood.
The 'operation' is often performed without anesthetic and using un-sterilised equipment. The practice causes serious physical and mental damage in both the short and long term and can also mean complications later in life including during childbirth.
UK human rights charity the 'Foundation for Women's Health, Research and Development' (FORWARD) has estimated that as many as 6500 girls may be at risk of genital mutilation. The charity has also found evidence of fear, intimidation and brutality being used against girls who speak out about the abuse.
Today, the European Parliament voted, by an overwhelming majority, in favour of a report that condemns all types of female genital mutilation and calls on all EU Member States to strongly enforce existing laws banning the practice.
Speaking after the vote Liz Lynne, who is a Member of the Parliament's Sub- Committee on Human Rights, said:
"I am very pleased that the Parliament has expressed such strong condemnation of this vile practice. There can be no excuse whatsoever for subjecting girls to such appalling, demeaning and damaging physical abuse.
"Female genital mutilation is in clear breach of not just fundamental human rights but of the moral standards of society. We must work together to ensure that this abuse is ended not only in the UK and the rest of Europe but right across the world.
"What is more, those that continue to carry out such operations here in the UK and across the rest of Europe, and who use violence and fear to hide their actions and cover-up their cruelty must be brought to justice."
ENDS
Notes:
The full report voted on today can be found at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&reference=A6-2009-0054&language=EN&mode=XML
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