Changes from resolution motion to resolution motion joint

RemovedB90233/2024

AddedEuropean Parliament resolution on the proposed repeal of the law banning female genital mutilation in The Gambia

RemovedMotion for a European Parliament resolution on the proposed repeal of the law banning female genital mutilation in The Gambia

(2024/2699(RSP))

The European Parliament,

Change 1

Removedhaving regard to its resolution of 12 February 2020 on an EU strategy to put an end to female genital mutilation around the world,

– having regard to the Samoa Agreement,

Changed– having regard to the Maputo ProtocolConvention toon the AfricanElimination Charterof onAll HumanForms andof People’sDiscrimination Rightsagainst Women, the Convention on the Rights of Womenthe inChild Africa,and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,

Change 2

Removedhaving regard to Rule 144 of its rules of procedure,

Added– having regard to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Maputo Protocol and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child,

Changedwhereas– femalehaving genitalregard mutilationto (FGM)Sustainable isDevelopment aGoal violation5, ofaiming humanfor rightsthe whichglobal amountseradication toof childfemale abusegenital andmutilation gender-based(FGM) violence;by 2030,

Change 3

Removedwhereas around 46% of girls aged 14 and under are victims of FGM in The Gambia; whereas FGM has severe consequences including irreparable physical, psychological, reproductive and sexual health damage, and can lead to death;

Added– having regard to Rules 144(5) and 132(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

Removedwhereas the Women’s Amendment Act which criminalised the practice of FGM was adopted in The Gambia in 2015; whereas this legislation was recognised globally as a leading step forward;

AddedA. whereas the landmark Women’s (Amendment) Act of 2015 in The Gambia bans FMG, making it punishable by up to three years in prison;

Removedwhereas a bill has been introduced to parliament to repeal the Act and decriminalise FGM; whereas The Gambia risks being the first country to backtrack on progress in tacking FGM;

AddedB. whereas on 18 March 2024, a proposed law to repeal the ban passed the second reading in the Gambian Parliament and has now been referred to a parliamentary committee that will take at least three months to examine it before returning to parliament for a third and final review;

Removedwhereas The Gambia is a signatory to multiple regional and international agreements which commit parties to eliminating FGM, most recently though its signature of the Samoa Agreement;

AddedC. whereas The Gambia risks being the first country in the world to reverse legal protection against FGM; whereas this risks encouraging a similar weakening of the rights of women and girls in the region;

Removedwhereas the decriminalisation of FGM in The Gambia would not only be a devastating step backwards in the country, but would risk encouraging similar weakening of the rights of women and girls in the region;

AddedD. whereas FGM is a grave violation of human rights and discrimination against girls and women; whereas it is not justified by any religion or culture, is an abusive, exploitative and harmful practice with severe consequences including irreparable physical, psychological, reproductive and sexual health damage, and can lead to death; whereas it prevents women and girls from reaching their full potential and participating in society;

Removedwhereas an estimated 71% of female EU asylum applications from FGM-practicing countries are FGM survivors;

AddedE. whereas The Gambia has among the highest prevalence of FGM in the world, and according to UNICEF, 76 % of Gambian women aged 15-49 have been circumcised; whereas over 230 million girls and women worldwide are affected by FGM;

RemovedDeeply regrets the proposed repeal of the FGM ban in The Gambia; stresses this would be an unequivocal step backwards for the rights of women and girls, and the decriminalisation of an invasive form of gender-based violence;

Added1. Urges the Gambian Parliament to demonstrate its commitment to international human rights law and multiple international and regional agreements to which The Gambia is a signatory, to protect the rights of women and girls, and therefore to reject the proposal and uphold the criminalisation of FGM;

RemovedUrges the Gambian parliament to immediately reject the proposal and uphold the criminalisation of FGM;

Added2. Urges the Gambian Government to strengthen its efforts to prevent and eliminate FGM through robust enforcement measures and awareness and education efforts to address its root causes; invites the Gambian Government to engage with international partners, notably the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of FGM;

RemovedCalls on the Gambian government to engage with international partners on the way forward, notably the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of FGM;

Added3. Stands ready to support the government and civil society organisations in community engagement, including with religious, traditional and community leaders, in combating FGM, and to support survivors and women’s rights defenders;

RemovedUnderlines that the rights of women and girls remains fragile; reiterates the importance of continued awareness-raising and community engagement in The Gambia to tackle FGM, including with religious, traditional and community leaders;

Added4. Calls on the Commission and the European External Action Service to urgently and systematically address the issue of FGM with the Gambian authorities in coordination with international partners;

RemovedRecalls that community engagement requires the full involvement of boys and men through national dialogue and education to support inclusive and positive societal change;

Added5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the European External Action Service, the Gambian authorities and the African Union.

RemovedCalls on the Commission and EEAS to urgently address the issue of FGM with the Gambian authorities in political and human rights dialogue, including psychological support for FGM victims;

RemovedUrges the Commission and Member States to further coordinate adequate protection for female asylum seekers on the grounds of FGM, including guidance based on the UNHCR Guidelines on gender-based persecution, and training of asylum case workers;

RemovedInstruct its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and the Government and Parliament of The Gambia.