Switzerland takes part in the conference against forced marriage and female genital mutilation
Bern, 22.07.2014 - "A future free from female genital mutilation and child, early and forced marriage" – this is the central goal of the Girl Summit 2014, which is co-hosted by the British government and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in London on 22 July 2014. Ambassador Nicole Wyrsch, special envoy for human rights issues at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), is representing Switzerland at the summit.
Every year, an estimated 14 million girls worldwide – some as young as eight – are forced into marriage. Female genital mutilation is especially widespread in Africa and parts of Asia, where according to UN estimates 3 million girls face a serious risk of it every year. Some 125 million girls and women are estimated to have already been cut. In a number of African countries, nine out of ten girls are affected. In some countries, both forced marriage and female genital mutilation are deep-rooted traditions that seriously violate the human rights of women and girls. They impede girls' development and affect their mental, physical and sexual health. Because of migration, these practices also occur in Switzerland.
The goal of the Girl Summit 2014, which will be attended by about 800 government representatives and experts from civil society and international organisations, is to rally a global movement to eradicate female genital mutilation (FGM) and early and forced marriage (EFM) within a generation. This requires the commitment of governments, communities, organisations and leading personalities. The measures to be initiated at the Girl Summit include, for example, national programmes, the implementation of laws, the transfer of knowledge and skills, and a range of facilities and services for affected women and girls. The exchange of best practice, instruments and measures that have proven successful on the ground enjoy a high priority at the summit. Ambassador Nicole Wyrsch, the FDFA's special envoy for human rights issues, will brief the participants on Switzerland's extensive activities in this area.
Young people in particular are to be reached and motivated to do their part via social media and during a special Youth for Change summit which was held before the Girl Summit. Another objective is to persuade diaspora communities to become involved.
Switzerland's commitment to this cause is first and foremost expressed in the Federal Act on Measures against Forced Marriages, which came into force in July 2013. To back up these legislative measures with concrete activities, the Federal Council has launched a corresponding five-year programme against forced marriage (2013–2017) aimed at establishing services for affected women and girls throughout Switzerland and strengthening cooperation among experts in this field. The programme is managed by the Federal Office for Migration (FOM) in close collaboration with the Federal Office for Gender Equality.
To help combat female genital mutilation, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) and the FOM for example support Caritas Switzerland's mediation service for preventing the circumcision of girls.
In the Girl Summit Charter, the participants undertake to continue to work on these issues. Switzerland has signed the Summit Charter along with Canada, France, Ghana, the Netherlands, Senegal and other countries.
Further information:
FDFA Information
+41 (0)58 462 31 53
info@eda.admin.ch
FOM Information
+41 (0)58 465 78 44
info@bfm.admin.ch
FDHA Information
+41 (0)58 463 39 77
media@gs-edi.admin.ch
Address for enquiries
FDFA Communication
Federal Palace West Wing
CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland
Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55
E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch
Twitter: @SwissMFA
Publisher
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html
State Secretariat for Migration
https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home.html
Federal Office of Public Health
http://www.bag.admin.ch
