11/03/2008 Equality and Non-Discrimination
“No threat to the physical or mental integrity of a woman or a girl is justifiable in the name of cultural relativism" said Antigoni Papadopoulos (, ALDE) today at the close of a hearing on abduction and illegal confinement of women and girls in the name of practices contrary to human rights. "Forced marriage, genital mutilation and all other gender-based human rights violations must be penalised by law," she declared.
This hearing, held by the PACE Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, concluded that the Assembly should call on member states to do everything in their power to reinforce prevention of forced marriage and all other practices contrary to human rights in the host country or the country of origin. It should also invite member states to alert public and consular authorities to the serious risks to which women and girls forcibly or arbitrarily returned to their countries of origin are exposed.
The other measures proposed include prosecuting abductions, illegal confinements and forced returns and introducing procedures at consulates to facilitate the identification of victims and speed up the granting of a return visa.
PACE is to hold a plenary debate on this topic before the end of the year.