Action against female genital mutilation and forced marriage
The Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH) was entrusted by the Committee of Ministers to undertake work to combat and prevent Female Genital Mutilation and Forced Marriage, which are serious violations of human rights.
To this end, it was called on to conduct an analysis of the legal situation at international level and in the Council of Europe member States and to prepare a guide to good national practices aimed at combating and preventing these human rights violations.
The aim of this work is to provide support for States to:
- ensure coherent policies and better implementation of the legislation aimed at preventing these affronts;
- reinforce the National and European legal framework as well as the co-operation between member States;
- raise awareness of these issues.
This activity has further resulted in the adoption of a Declaration of the Committee of Ministers.
This work was completed by 31 December 2017.
Results
- Declaration of the Committee of Ministers on the need to intensify the effort to prevent and combat female genital mutilation and forced marriage in Europe (as adopted at the 1293rd meeting of the Ministers' Deputies, 13 September 2017)
- Guide to good and promising practices aimed at preventing and combating female genital mutilation and forced marriage (as adopted by the CDDH at its 87th meeting, 6-9 June 2017)
- Analysis of the legal situation at international level and in Council of Europe member States on combating and preventing female genital mutilation and forced marriage (as adopted by the CDDH at its 85th meeting, 14-17 June 2016)
Contributing partners:
This activity was prepared by national experts from a selected number of member States within the Drafting Group on Female Genital Mutilation and Forced Marriage (CDDH-MF). A large number of member States contributed with good practices. The activity also benefitted from the active participation of:
- non governmental organisations, including ForwardUK and the EndFGM European Network
- other international institutions and agencies such as the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), the European Institution for Gender Equality (EIGE), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
At the Council of Europe level, the activity was carried out in co-ordination and co-operation with other relevant bodies involved in this field, in particular:
- the Gender Equality Commission (GEC)
- the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and domestic violence (GREVIO)
- the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA)
- the Ad hoc Committee of Experts on Roma and Traveller Issues (CAHROM)
- the Ad hoc Committee for the Right of the Child (CAHENF)
- the Parliamentary Assembly (Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination)
- the Conference of International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs)
Further information
Members of the Drafting Group also attended and presented the work at a number of international Conferences such as the BanFGM Conference on the global ban on female genital mutilation (Rome, Jan 30 – Feb 1 2017) organised by No Peace without Justice and the Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children, and the European Forum to Build Bridges on FGM (Brussels, November 28) organised by the EndFGM European Network.
Background Documentation
- Terms of reference (CDDH-MF(2016)01Rev)
Meeting documents
3RD meeting, 28-31 mARCH 2017
2nd meeting, 21-23 September 2016
1st meeting, 27-29 April 2016
Useful links:
Secretary General
Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law
Committee of Ministers
Parliamentary Assembly
Access to Official Documents (TROMSØ CONVENTION)
Department for the execution of the Court's Judgments
European Court of Human Rights
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights
HELP – European Programme for Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals
Online Plateform Human Rights and Business