Policy failure threatens little immigrant girls

ON March 8 last — International Women’s Day — the Irish Forum for Global Health and Irish Aid, Department of Foreign Affairs, co-hosted a seminar — Aiming for Maternal Survival: Promoting the Rights of Women and Girls.

There were presentations and discussions on the consequences of child marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), gender-based violence and unsafe childbirth.

I have lived and worked in a north African country where the rights of women and girls are not protected from these injustices. Nothing can prepare you for witnessing the death of a woman in childbirth or the complications of FGM in a young girl, even if you are a trained midwife as I am.

Little Naomi and Jemima Izevbekhai await the dangerous procedure of FGM if they are finally deported with their mother to Nigeria. This procedure is illegal in Ireland.

Why can’t the departments of Justice, Health and Foreign Affairs align policy objectives in pursuit of global justice and the right to health and protection for all?

Breda Gahan

Cabra

Dublin 7