Motion for a resolution | Doc. 13736 | 24 March 2015

Female genital mutilation in Europe

Signatories: Ms Béatrice FRESKO-ROLFO, Monaco, EPP/CD ; Ms Boriana ÅBERG, Sweden, EPP/CD ; Ms Ingrid ANTIČEVIĆ MARINOVIĆ, Croatia, SOC ; Mr Viorel Riceard BADEA, Romania, EPP/CD ; Ms Gülsün BİLGEHAN, Turkey, SOC ; Ms Elena CENTEMERO, Italy, EPP/CD ; Mr Boriss CILEVIČS, Latvia, SOC ; Mr Carlos COSTA NEVES, Portugal, EPP/CD ; Ms Tülin ERKAL KARA, Turkey, EC ; Mr Mihai-Viorel FIFOR, Romania, SOC ; Ms Sahiba GAFAROVA, Azerbaijan, EC ; Mr Jonas GUNNARSSON, Sweden, SOC ; Mr Matjaž HANŽEK, Slovenia, UEL ; Ms Françoise HETTO-GAASCH, Luxembourg, EPP/CD ; Ms Rózsa HOFFMANN, Hungary, EPP/CD ; Ms Elvira KOVÁCS, Serbia, EPP/CD ; Ms Athina KYRIAKIDOU, Cyprus, SOC ; Ms Marit MAIJ, Netherlands, SOC ; Ms Hermine NAGHDALYAN, Armenia, EC ; Mr José Ignacio PALACIOS, Spain, EPP/CD ; Ms Carmen QUINTANILLA, Spain, EPP/CD ; Ms Milena SANTERINI, Italy, NR ; Ms Deborah SCHEMBRI, Malta, SOC ; Ms Maria Edera SPADONI, Italy, NR ; Mr Michał STULIGROSZ, Poland, EPP/CD

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

In Europe, 500 000 women and girls have already undergone genital mutilation and 180 000 girls are at risk of being subjected to it every year. This practice is one of the many forms of violence committed against women. In Resolution 1247 (2001) on female genital mutilation, the Parliamentary Assembly already highlighted the seriousness of this practice and invited the Council of Europe member States to adopt a legislative framework with a view to repressing it. To bring an end to female genital mutilation it is also of the utmost importance to run awareness-raising and training campaigns targeting the communities concerned, health professionals and the general public.

Female genital mutilation constitutes a clear violation of women’s rights, particularly their physical and psychological integrity. Yet it is still very much a taboo subject. The Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (CETS No. 210) recognises the existence of female genital mutilation in Europe and establishes a legal framework to prevent such practices and offer protection and support to women and girls who have fallen victim to it or are at risk of doing so.

The Assembly should investigate the various dimensions of this problem in Europe with a view to identifying measures to effectively prevent female genital mutilation, including when it occurs outside Europe, and to ensure both the protection of women and girls at risk and the multidisciplinary care of the consequences of these mutilations.