Government urged to outlaw female circumcision

GROUPS working to end female genital mutilation (FGM) have urged the Government to introduce laws specifically outlawing the practice.

Some 2,600 women in Ireland are believed to have suffered FGM, or female circumcision, before coming to live here and support groups fear many of them will come under pressure to put their own daughters through the same ordeal.

“We know from other countries that immigrants are put under a lot of pressure from family back home to keep up the traditions of their native country and that the first visit back home after getting residency or asylum is a particularly dangerous time for parents with young girls,” said Sioban O’Brien Green of Akidwa, the African Women’s Network.