The World Health Organization declared on February 6 International Day of Zero Tolerance with Female Genital Mutilation. Female genital mutilation is recognized internationally as a violation of human rights and is a reflection of inequality between women and men. It also violates the rights of health, safety and physical integrity, the right not to be subjected to torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and the right to life in cases where the procedure ends up causing death. This practice affects, according to the World Health Organization, about 40 million girls and women worldwide.
The European Parliament, in its Resolution of the year 2014, notes that international, European institutions and member states play a leading role in the prevention of female genital mutilation, the protection of women and girls and the identification of victims .
In our country, the practice of female genital mutilation is prohibited and prosecuted from the criminal point of view. Thus, Organic Law 1/2015, of March 30, which modifies Organic Law 10/1995, of November 23, of the Criminal Code, effective as of July 1, 2015, introduced an aggravating circumstance by gender reason that may result from the application of the crime of female genital mutilation, sanctioned in article 149.2 of the Criminal Code, which implies a greater rigor of the criminal sanction and an improvement in the criminal protection of women and girls.
On the other hand, on July 28, 2015, Law 26/2015, on the protection of Children, was promulgated under the mandate of the Popular Party government, whose article 11 is included, within the guiding principles of administrative action, the protection of minors against any form of violence, including female genital mutilation. Under this article, the public authorities will develop awareness, prevention, assistance and protection against any form of child abuse, establishing procedures that ensure coordination between the competent Public Administrations.
For all this and in the face of the persistence of this harsh reality, from the POPULAR PARTY we want:
- To state that female genital mutilation constitutes a serious violation of human rights and is also a clear form of violence against women and girls simply because it is.
- Reiterate our resounding rejection, along with that of all Spanish society, towards this harmful practice, renewing a commitment decided for the sake of its elimination.
- Deepen the fight against female genital mutilation through detection and prevention protocols.
- Raise awareness and sensitize the entire society and, in particular, those communities at greatest risk, in order to actively involve everyone in its prevention and eradication.
