Republican News · Thursday 25 July 2002

Comhlámh calls for education and legislation

On Friday, 28 June in Dublin, Comhlámh, Development Workers in Global Solidarity: Ireland launched a booklet entitled Understanding Female Genital Mutilation (also known as Female Circumcision).

At the launch, Comhlámh called on the Dublin government to introduce specific legislation in Ireland against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), along with a programme of education on the issue.

According to the World Health Organisation, up to 132 million women and girls have undergone FGM worldwide. Now, due to the reality of global migration, there are women living in Ireland who have undergone the practice in other countries. There is also anecdotal evidence that the practice has occurred here in Ireland. Comhlámh, in partnership with some of the women affected by FGM now living in Ireland, is aiming to raise awareness on the harmful consequences of the practice, a harsh reality which affects at least two million girls and women a year around the world. Comhlámh is carrying out this work in the hope the practice will never take hold in Ireland, as it has in some other European countries.

"Any prevention strategy requires an approach that includes legislation aimed specifically against the practice of FGM and education on the complexities of the issue," said Majella Darcy, a Comhlámh member who first came across FGM while working as a development worker in Sudan. "Most importantly, it is essential that those who lead the campaign for change are those most affected by the issue, and therefore those who stand most to benefit by correcting the injustice that is FGM."

The publication is aimed at health professionals, those working as service providers with new communities in Ireland, educators, community workers and all those interested in global justice issues.

For further information, or to talk to a member of the group, please call Morína O'Neill, Development Education Officer, on 00-353-1-4783490/morina@comhlamh.org. Comhlámh is at 10 Upper Camden Street, Dublin 2. (www.comhlamh.org)