Zero tolerance for female genital mutilation (FGM)

28.1.2015

Question for oral answer O-000003/2015
to the Commission
Rule 128
Iratxe García Pérez, on behalf of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality

In its communication entitled ‘Towards the elimination of female genital mutilation’ of 25 November 2013 (COM(2013)0833), the Commission takes a holistic and cross-cutting approach to eradicating female genital mutilation (FGM). It lists actions, but it does not give timelines. Parliament is concerned about the practical aspects of the implementation of this action plan and of the other political and legal tools at the EU’s disposal for use in eliminating FGM in the EU and beyond.

Which actions has the Commission taken so far to ensure that the recommendations made in the Council conclusions of 5 and 6 June 2014 are implemented? What concrete measures will the Commission take to encourage Member States to develop specific indicators on FGM as part of the EU’s follow-up to the United Nations’ Beijing Platform for Action? In the aforementioned communication, the Commission acknowledged that ‘legislation, effective prosecution, and the conviction of guilty parents and cutters appear to be essential as deterrents’.

How will the Commission support Member States in enacting and enforcing legislation that prohibits FGM[1] and how will it contribute to this policy in its external relations? In particular, what measures will be taken to ensure that sanctions against perpetrators are applied more consistently by the Member States? Do European External Action Service staff members in all the Delegations receive appropriate training?

Is the Commission willing to fund vital support services as recommended by the Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men?[2] What concrete measures will the Commission take to guarantee the protection of asylum seekers with claims relating to FGM under the recast Asylum Procedures Directive (2013/32/EU)?

How will the Commission make sure that its work on operational planning in the field of justice and home affairs is connected to existing commitments to end violence against women? What concrete steps have been taken so far to ensure that the EU and the Member States comply with the Istanbul Convention? Does the Commission intend to follow the recommendations contained in Parliament’s resolution of 25 February 2014 on combating violence against women and to submit a proposal in the near future for an act establishing measures to promote and support the action of Member States to prevent violence against women and girls (VAWG)?

• [1]  FGM is prosecutable in all EU Member States, either through general criminal legislation or through specific criminal law provisions. A principle of extra-territoriality is often included, making it possible to prosecute an individual for committing FGM abroad if the victim and/or the person(s) exercising or planning the procedure are nationals of the investigating country.
• [2]  According to a report by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), there have only been 41 criminal court cases concerning FGM across 11 different Member States, as there is a lack of services with sufficient expertise and knowledge to be able to provide support to victims.