A hard-hitting campaign targeting countries that allow female genital mutilation was launched today.
A ground-breaking three-point charter of measures to eradicate the horror of FGM was revealed by campaigners to combat the practice.
London MEP Marina Yannakoudakis is spearheading the campaign ahead of International Women’s Day.
Her manifesto, based on principles of action the Evening Standard has recommended, demands that:
- Governments ramp up their efforts to prosecute people who are guilty of inflicting genital mutilation on girls.
- All cases of FGM are officially recorded both in the UK and abroad to reveal the true scale of the scandal.
- Strict obligations must be imposed on aid to non-European countries to ensure they protect girls from FGM.
The manifesto will form the centrepiece of a conference on FGM taking place at City Hall later this month.
Mrs Yannakoudakis, who organised the conference, said: “Let’s gather proper data and make sure all cases get reported and recorded.
“Let’s make sure those responsible for FGM are brought to justice both in the UK and abroad. And finally — let’s not send unconditional aid to countries where this barbaric practice prevails.”
She added: “This is an appalling crime against children — one that is veiled in superstition and secrecy and hidden from public view. It happens to young girls who in many ways are at the margins of society, often isolated by a closed culture and lack of integration.
“I believe misplaced sensitivities over religion, race and heritage are behind that fact that in Britain there has been not one prosecution. If this appalling abuse were happening on such a scale to young, white, middle-class girls I believe there would be no shortage of court cases or convictions.”
The manifesto has been endorsed by the Evening Standard as well as leading campaigners including Waris Dirie, United Nations special ambassador for the elimination of FGM and Mikael Gustafsson, chairman of the European parliament’s gender equality committee. Speakers at the event on March 18, which will be chaired by Evening Standard editor Sarah Sands, include Boris Johnson, health minister Jane Ellison, Efua Dorkenoo of Equality Now, FGM survivor Alimatu Dimonekene and cross party MEPs.
Mrs Yannakoudakis said: “For too long this has been a secret suffering. Broader society has been kept in the dark or has chosen to look the other way.”
UN commends the Standard
The Evening Standard and two of its journalists have won “special recognition” in UN-backed awards for their campaigning coverage of the problem of female genital mutilation.
The jury for the Women on the Move media awards, which is run by the United Nations High Commissioner for the Refugees and migrant welfare groups, The Forum and the Migrants’ Rights Network, said the paper’s coverage has helped to “expose an issue to a new audience” and “catalyse change with the target audience, government or other influential bodies”.
The jury also praised the “outstanding reporting” of Deputy Campaigns Editor Anna Davis and Home Affairs Editor Martin Bentham for publicising the plight of victims of FGM.
In a citation the award jury said it was giving a “special jury recognition to the Evening Standard newspaper for its campaigning reporting and coverage of female genital mutilation”.
It added: “Anna Davis and Martin Bentham are commended for their outstanding reporting that has highlighted the plight of women who’ve been victims of FGM or are facing deportation.”
The newspaper’s achievement will be recognised tonight at the South Bank Centre. Other awards will be presented to celebrate women who have fled persecution and helped others.