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Technik-Spezialistin Charlie Guest (30, Gb) stösst die Nicht-Übertragung von Frauen-Rennen bei der Junioren-WM sauer auf. Sie erhält prominente Unterstützung.

Die Kontroverse um Spesenabrechnungen des Berner Regierungsrats zieht weitere Kreise. Recherchen zeigen: Philippe Müller hat noch mehr Spesen als bisher bekannt abgerechnet. Die Regierung beschwichtigt, Müllers Partei schweigt.

A PS és az SaS keddenismét kezdeményezi a kulturális miniszter leváltásáról szóló rendkívüli parlamenti ülés összehívását. Az eredeti beadványról ugyanis Peter Pellegrini hétfőn bejelentette, hogy a kevés képviselői aláírás miatt érvénytelen. A PS szerint adminisztrációs hiba történt.

Das 1933 im Bodensee versenkte Passagierschiff «DS Säntis» soll im März geborgen werden. Nun liege dafür die Bewilligung der Thurgauer Behörden vor, teilte der dafür verantwortliche Schiffsbergeverein am Montag mit.

Das englische National-League-Spiel zwischen Barnet und Wealdstone sorgt am Samstag für Aufregung. Nach dem Ausgleichs-Treffer der Gäste in der 10. Minute der Nachspielzeit nimmt das Chaos seinen Lauf.

Zwei Hunde haben eine alte Dame in Grossbritannien totgebissen. Sie hatte auf ihren Enkel aufgepasst, als die Tiere plötzlich angriffen.

Prinzessin Kate setzt ihre Genesung zu Hause fort und Prinz William kehrt wieder zu seinen königlichen Aufgaben zurück: Am Mittwoch steht der erste Arbeitstermin für den Thronfolger an.

Les agriculteurs européens protestent depuis des mois, leurs manifestations se sont propagées sur tout le continent et ont culminé la semaine dernière avec leur descente à Bruxelles.

Mary von Dänemark feiert ihren ersten Geburtstag als Königin. Doch statt eines perfekt gestylten Porträts mit Krone veröffentlicht der Palast ein rührendes Privatfoto.

In Indien wurde eine angeblich für China spionierende Taube freigelassen. Der laut den Behörden kriminelle Vogel wurde zuvor acht Monate lang festgehalten.

Written by Rosamund Shreeves.

As part of broader efforts to combat all forms of violence against women and girls, the European Union (EU) is committed to working collectively to eradicate female genital mutilation (FGM) and to supporting its Member States’ efforts in this field. The European Commission assesses EU measures to combat FGM every year, on or around 6 February – the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation.

Facts and figures

Female genital mutilation (FGM) includes all procedures that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical purposes. FGM is carried out for cultural, religious and/or social reasons, mostly on young girls between infancy and the age of 15. It has no health benefits and can have serious immediate and long-term effects on health and wellbeing, as well as considerable healthcare costs.

The exact number of girls and women affected by FGM is not known, but the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates that, worldwide, at least 200 million women and girls have been ‘cut’, while around 4 million girls are at risk of undergoing FGM every year. The practice, which is most common in 28 African countries, is also prevalent in parts of the Middle East and Asia, and is reported to a lesser extent elsewhere. Analysis and modelling by UNICEF and the UN Population Fund shows that prevalence has fallen in some regions, but progress could be neutralised by population growth in high-risk areas and ‘stagnating efforts’ to combat FGM. Since the coronavirus pandemic, multiple crises have blocked progress, putting more girls at risk of FGM and disrupting prevention efforts and access to support services. Clinics and hospitals practicing FGM, contrary to medical ethics, is a growing challenge.

Official EU-wide data on the prevalence of FGM in Europe are lacking. Four studies to map FGM, conducted by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) between 2012 and 2020, found that there are victims (or potential victims) in at least 16 EU countries: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. The European End FGM network estimates that over 600 000 FGM survivors live in Europe and 180 000 girls are at risk in 13 countries alone. Around 20 000 women and girls from FGM-practising countries seek asylum in the EU every year, with an estimated 1 000 asylum claims relating directly to FGM. This number has grown steadily since 2008.

Commitments and action to combat FGM

FGM is a form of child abuse and gender-based violence, and is recognised internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women. The practice also violates a person’s rights to health, security and physical integrity; the right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment; and the right to life in cases where the procedure results in death. Measures have been adopted at international, EU and national level to prevent FGM and to protect FGM victims.

Instruments and action at international level

At international level, United Nations (UN), African Union and Council of Europe standards are benchmarks for work to combat FGM. Key treaties, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Geneva Convention, all cover FGM indirectly, with specific guidance on protection and asylum for victims. In Africa, the 15 parties to the Maputo Protocol have committed to eliminate FGM (Article V). The Council of Europe’s Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention), is the first treaty to recognise that FGM exists in Europe (Article 38), and sets out specific obligations on preventing and combating the practice and providing support for victims and those at risk.

The UN’s longstanding efforts to end the practice culminated in its first specific resolution on FGM in 2012, calling for the adoption of national action plans and comprehensive strategies to eliminate it. The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development identifies FGM as a harmful practice, to be eliminated by 2030 (Goal 5). The UN has named 6 February the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM, and the European Commission takes stock annually, around that day, of EU efforts to combat FGM.

EU legislation, policy and funding

The EU currently has no binding instrument designed to protect women from violence, but certain aspects come within the scope of existing EU law. The Treaties and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights affirm the principles of gender equality and non-discrimination, guaranteeing the right to dignity and including provisions on the right to physical and mental integrity. The Directive on Victims’ Rights (2012) requires provision of support services for victims of FGM, which would be strengthened by a proposed revision. The current asylum directives (2013) are relevant for asylum seekers affected by or at risk of FGM. The revised reception conditions and qualification directives, due to be formally adopted in 2024, should enhance protection for FGM victims. The Commission has also proposed a directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence, which would criminalise FGM across the EU, set a maximum prison sentence of at least five years for perpetrators and improve support for victims. The EU became a party to the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention in October 2023; one aim of the directive is to implement the Convention’s objectives in areas of EU competence, including judicial cooperation in criminal matters and asylum policy.

Combating gender-based violence, including FGM, is one of the priorities of the EU’s external action and its internal strategies on children’s rights and gender equality. In 2013, the EU recognised the need to adopt a coordinated approach to combating FGM, setting a framework for mainstreaming across the fields of justice, police, health, social services, child protection, education, immigration and asylum and external action. The objectives include developing reliable EU-level data, improving access to support and justice for victims, raising awareness among relevant professionals and communities, ensuring that EU asylum and victim protection legislation is implemented effectively and promoting the elimination of FGM worldwide. To supplement this framework, the Commission will issue a recommendation on preventing and combating FGM and other harmful practices; initially scheduled for 2022, it is now expected in 2024.

Funding for tackling FGM is provided through the joint EU-UN Spotlight Initiative and EU funding programmes, notably the longstanding Daphne strand, which continues under the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme for 2021-2027. The Commission has accepted the need for more effective tracking of the Spotlight Initiative funding allocated to fighting FGM. It has also recognised that, in pursuit of SDG Goal 5, further action is needed to raise awareness in the communities concerned within the EU.

National-level instruments against FGM

Many of the actions needed to end FGM now lie within the competences of the Member States. FGM is a prosecutable offence under national law in all Member States, either as a specific criminal act or as an act of bodily harm or injury. However, very few cases are brought to court. A number of Member States have also developed national action plans on FGM. Continuing issues of concern include barriers to reporting and successful prosecution, victim support, and ways to ensure long-term, sustainable cultural change.

European Parliament position

The European Parliament has played an important role in raising awareness and pushing for firm action on FGM, including through the work of its Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM). Parliament adopted resolutions on FGM in 2001, 2009, 2012, 2014, and 2018, calling on the Commission and Member States to provide the legal and other means required to raise awareness, protect and support victims and ensure that offenders are prosecuted. Parliament has called for appropriate protection for women and girls seeking asylum on grounds of FGM. In 2020, it set out its own recommendations for an EU strategy to put an end to FGM around the world and, in 2021, called for coordination of external and internal action. Parliament welcomes the planned recommendation and demands stronger provisions on accessible specialist support for FGM victims in the proposed directive on combating violence against women.

This publication is a further update of an ‘at a glance’ note originally published in January 2015.

Read this ‘at a glance’ on ‘Zero tolerance for female genital mutilation‘ on the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Die Formel 1 kommt in der Winterpause einfach nicht zur Ruhe. Jetzt soll es dem dienstältesten Teamchef, Christian Horner (50), an den Kragen gehen.

Jamie Rizzi stürmte die Bühne an der Delegiertenversammlung des Bündner Hotelierverbands. Er ist mit der Kritik des Präsidenten an der «verweichlichten» jungen Generation überhaupt nicht einverstanden, wie er im Interview mit Blick sagt.

Két holttestet találták egy regeteruszkai (Ruskov) családi házban, a Kassa-vidéki járásban. A rendőrség gyilkosság ügyében nyomoz.

Az előválogatóból 40 dal jutott tovább A Dal 2024 mezőnyébe. A szombati első adásban tíz produkciót láthatnak a nézők a Duna csatornán. Az élő showban négy egymást követő szombat este, tizesével mutatkoznak be az előadók és a dalok. A tét az elődöntőbe jutás. (mti)

Bundespräsidentin Viola Amherd hat Vorwürfe zurückgewiesen, in ihrem Departement gebe es ein Finanzloch. Die Darstellung, wonach die Armee Rechnungen nicht bezahlen könne, sei falsch.

Viele Menschen leiden im Winter unter trockenen Augen. Eine verminderte Tränenproduktion kann unangenehme Symptome hervorrufen und dem Sehvermögen schaden, da der Tränenfilm wichtige Funktionen für das Auge hat.

German ministers approved a €16bn plan to subsidise four gas-fired power plants, which can supply up to 10 gigawatts of electricity. The EU Commission, which previously raised concerns over Germany's gas expansion plans, must still approve the subsidies.

Vasárnap óta az osztrák Alpokban rekedt két szlovák hegymászó. Megsérültek, így csak mentőhelikopterrel tudnák őket lehozni, ami azonban az erős szél miatt nem tudott felszállni.

Die Ski-Saison ist in vollem Gange. Für den perfekten Tag auf der Piste im Schnee gibt dir hier die Ski-Legende Vreni Schneider Tipps für den perfekten Carving-Schwung.