Assita Kanko collaborates on a new EU directive against genital mutilation

6 February is the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation. The practice, which involves the partial or complete removal of girls’ external genitalia, is still widespread worldwide, including in Europe. The physical and mental consequences are immense. MEP Assita Kanko underwent this mutilation at the age of five and still experiences the consequences. She has been fighting against this horrific practice for years. Kanko is continuing this fight in the European Parliament as a co-negotiator for the new Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence.

Assita Kanko hopes for strict, harmonised rules in the European Member States against the practice of female genital mutilation so that every girl is spared this horror. That no more girls’ lives are destroyed simply because they are girls. Kanko: “Genital mutilation is an assault on the body, mind and autonomy of girls. It is also a violation of basic European values.”

No reporting obligation

Currently, only 18 Member States have specific legislation regarding female genital mutilation. Therefore, nine Member States do not have separate criminal law provisions for this. A survey by the European Commission also revealed that in many EU Member States, there is no obligation for doctors to report female genital mutilation and that this is often not done due to fear of reprisals, for example. Many Member States also have too few specialised care providers to help victims.

Religious traditions are not above the law

Kanko: “Female genital mutilation is an extreme form of violence and discrimination against women and girls. We must work hard towards a world in which every woman and girl can lead a dignified life. A world in which every woman and every girl has the right to make her own decisions. In which she can live without pain and shame. We can build that world. A world in which the health and well-being of every woman are protected and valued. That starts with successful integration, with better laws and with better enforcement of the law. A tradition or religion may never be above the law.”

Making concrete progress

“Therefore, with the Directive to combat violence against women and domestic violence, we must make concrete progress in the way we protect women from violence and give them hope and freedom,” Assita Kanko concludes.