Costello welcomes legislation to protect women from FGM

13 July 2011

by Cllr Joe Costello

Criminal Justice (Female Genital Mutilation) Bill 2011

I wish to welcome this Bill wholeheartedly. It is now ten years since my former Labour Party colleague, Liz McManus, originally introduced the Female Genital Mutilation Bill as a Private Member's Bill in the Dáil.

Unfortunately, the Government of the day refused to accept it. Later my Labour Party colleague in the Senate, Ivana Bacik introduced a similar piece of legislation but again the Government of the day declined to accept it.

Finally, in the dying days of the last Government, after many reminders and entreaties on our part, on the 18th January 2011 they introduced their own Bill when it was obvious that the Government would fall before it could be passed.
This was a cynical exercise in politics and militated against the protection of girls and women living in Ireland from mutilation of their bodies and serious injury to their health. For an entire decade these vulnerable young people were left without the protection of Irish law by an irresponsible and uncaring Government.

The practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) is widespread. Over 3,000 women and girls living in Ireland today have undergone FGM; more than 500,000 women and girls living in Europe and over 100 million women and girls living in countries all over the world have undergone FGM.

It is a horrific attack on the bodily integrity and the human rights of women.
It can not be justified on religious or moral grounds. It is wrong, dangerous and inhumane.

I particularly want to congratulate a young Somalian woman, Ifrah Ahmed, who suffered FGM and is in the Gallery today. She has led the campaign to eradicate the practice in Ireland once and for all.

She has campaigned courageously despite the hostility and opposition from many people in her own community. She in particular is responsible for the introduction of this legislation which will criminalise the practice of female genital mutilation in Ireland.

It is important that FGM is criminalised and carries a substantial penalty - up to 14 years imprisonment. Quite rightly the consent of the girl/woman herself or parents/guardians or the assertion that FGM is a custom or ritual are not permitted as defences.

Equally it is important that a woman or girl may not be taken from the State for the purpose of performing FGM on her. Aiding, abetting, counselling, attempting or procuring the commission of FGM are automatically crimes under existing Irish law once this Bill becomes legislation.

Now that the legislation is in place it is important to take steps to ensure awareness amongst the emigrant and migrant population and to ensure enforcement of the law.