Irish ‘fails’ threatened genital mutilation victims

The Government has been criticised for its failure to help the thousands of women and girls across Europe who are under threat of female genital mutilation (FGM).

Amnesty International accused Ireland of not using its presidency of the EU to support efforts to tackle the barbaric act.

Colm O’Gorman, the executive director of Amnesty International Ireland, claimed that, during the first few months of the presidency it was not clear whether anyone in Government knew which department was responsible for the issue, with anti-FGM activists being passed from minister to minister.