Fighter against genital mutilation: a call to solidarity!

Fighter against genital mutilation: a call to solidarity!

Wien, Österreich - On February 6, 2025, the terrifying topic of the female genital mutilation (FGM) is made aware of over 230 million girls and women worldwide. According to the organization Terre de Femmes, almost every woman in Somalia is affected by this cruel practice. There are also alarming reports in Europe about genital mutilation that are carried out on migrants. Marlene Keller from Terre de Femmes said that her organization receives information from youth welfare offices and specialists. In addition, girls are often brought to their countries of origin in order to be mutilated there. The discussion about the criminal liability of these acts is also of great importance; Even if the mutilation takes place abroad, it can be followed in Germany, as Deutschlandfunk reported.

claims for clarification and legal measures

While the City of Vienna has published recommendations for action for doctors to improve dealing with affected women, the situation in different countries remains different. In Niger, where FGM was punished in 2003, the number of women affected has dropped to only two percent. In Gambia, on the other hand, there were protests against the planned breakdown of prohibitions last year, since some citizens justify the practice with "religious purity" and cultural norms. Petra Bayr, the SPÖ's foreign policy spokeswoman, calls for more support for those affected and calls on mandatory training for specialist staff. Meri Disoski, the spokeswoman for the Greens for women and foreign policy, emphasizes that genital mutilation represents a serious violation of human rights that must be fought decisively, so Krone .

This topic is not only an international problem, but also a cruel reality in Austria, where around 11,000 women are affected by genital mutilation, including 6,300 in Vienna alone. The educational work within affected communities is considered crucial in order to counteract the increase in cases and to ensure that women and girls are protected from this crime.