S&D Euro MPs will call on the EU to grant effective protection to asylum seekers who are at risk from genital mutilation in their home country, during a debate today in Strasbourg.
S&D Group spokesperson for women's rights and gender equality, Belgian MEP Marie Arena says:
"Just a few days ago we marked the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Around 120 million women and young girls in the world have been the victims of such horrible mutilations.
"We urge the European Commission and EU member states to take effective and concrete measures to end FGM. First of all, asylum must be granted to those at risk from this practice. These women and young girls very often have no other choice but to flee their country in order to escape from such awful procedures.
"The European Commission must ensure the needs of these victims are taken care of.
"We also need to gather accurate data, enact legislation prohibiting FGM and promote preventative actions.
"The EU should take the lead on ending female genital mutilation. Now is the time to act."
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