BBC News Online: World: Europe

EU tackles female mutilation

Campaigners from all over Africa are at the European Union in Brussels to agree ways Europe and Africa can work together against female genital mutilation.

According to the World Health Organisation, around 130m women are subjected to the practice, also known as female circumcision.

The campaigners are calling for a clear recognition by European Union countries that the practice of female genital mutilation is an abuse of fundamental human rights.

Members of the parliament will hear personal testimonies from women, paediatricians, psychiatrists and other experts about the effect of the practice on the lives of millions of women and children.

Western interference

It is thought that every year, 2m more women suffer genital mutilation.

However, in some countries it is regarded as part of traditional culture and attempts to stamp it out have been attacked as Western interference.

But more than 15 out of 28 African countries have now outlawed female genital mutilation.

The conference in Brussels is expected to urge Europe's governments to protect immigrant women living in the EU by applying existing laws to protect individuals from violence.

Campaigners will also echo a call by members of the European parliament for asylum policy across Europe to recognise the threat of female genital mutilation as a reason to grant refugee status.