Corrigan welcomes Govt legislation to outlaw “barbaric” FGM

Dublin South Fianna Fáil Senator Maria Corrigan has welcomed the commitment from the Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney T.D. to introduce new legislation which will explicitly prohibit the “barbaric” practice of Female Genital Mutilation.

“This is a very important issue that must be dealt in law and in society.  Female Genital Mutilation is a barbaric practice that has no place in society.  I welcome the commitment from Minister Harney to publish the heads of a Bill on FGM within three months (before the Seanad rises in July) and progress the Bill in the autumn.”

“It’s estimated that 2,585 women resident in Ireland are living with the affects of this awful practice, which I believe is a clear form of child abuse as the most common age when FGM is performed is between four and 10 years.  There are absolutely no health benefits to this practice whatsoever.  The short-term complications include death, haemorrhage and infection while the long-term dangers include difficult and complicated childbirth, increased risk of maternal and child mortality, infertility, psychological trauma as well as depression and anxiety.”

“The current legal advice to the Government is that FGM constitutes an offense under the 1997 Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.  There is an obligation on everyone who is aware of this practice being carried out in Ireland to report it to the authorities.  FGM is recognised worldwide as a gross violation of human rights for girls and women and the EU has called on member states to ensure there is sufficient legal provision to prosecute all persons who conduct genital mutilation.  Ireland can play an important role internationally in this endeavour.”

“Genital mutilation breaches Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.  As I have said there is no place for this barbaric and abusive practice.  I know the Department of Health is working closely with the Department of Justice to engage with people living in Ireland who are from countries where FGM is prevalent to make them aware of the dangers and the unacceptability of it in Ireland.  I realise that legislation alone will not be sufficient to bring this practice to an end.  There is a clear role for education, awareness and the empowerment of women to end FGM for good.”

“I welcome the proposed legislative measures being taken by the Government and look forward to them being progressed this year to end any doubt whatsoever that this practice is totally unacceptable in Ireland today,” concluded Senator Corrigan.