New contact point created in Rebstein
Rebstein
Female circumcision: New contact point created in Rebstein – “Estimates assume that around 1,500 affected and endangered women live here”
Sunday is international day against female genital mutilation. A contact point for prevention, advice and aftercare was created for the region of Eastern Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
The club against Female circumcision Eastern Switzerland and Liechtenstein emerged at the end of 2021 from a network project initiated by two affected women. According to a press release from the Mintegra Foundation, which is also involved in the project, a new point of contact will be set up for the International Day against Female Circumcision on February 6th.
Criminal charges are very rare
Female genital cutting (also FGM or FGC) is a tradition that is thousands of years old, deeply rooted in the respective communities and practiced beyond religious borders. The term encompasses all practices in which the outermost female genital organs are partially removed or injured for non-medical reasons. This is a serious violation of human rights.
In Switzerland, there has been an explicit criminal law article on this since 2012. However, since it is a matter of violence within the family, criminal charges are very rare. Prevention, information work and aftercare for affected women are all the more important.
The board of directors of the association is broadly based
The project was initiated by two affected women – gradually a wide variety of institutions and people took part in order to contribute their commitment and professional support. The board of the young association is just as broad: it covers the areas of “medicine”, “counselling”, “integration” and “education and prevention”.
The association operates the contact point with donations, membership fees and funding from foundations and from integration. In the canton of St.Gallen, the responsibility in the departments is currently being clarified due to an interpellation in the cantonal council. “The Federal Council has made it clear that the cantons have an obligation here. According to his report, the canton of St. Gallen is the hardest hit, along with Zurich, Bern and Geneva. According to estimates, around 1,500 affected and vulnerable women live here,” explains Bella Glinksi, the newly elected managing director of the contact point. “So it’s high time to take action and regulate both prevention and aftercare.”
“Specialists often still have little knowledge on the subject, which is why this additional contact point is needed – they can mediate and coordinate,” explains Ms. Yvonne Blättler-Göldi. A lack of knowledge often leads to excessive demands or an inappropriate handling of the situation, which should be addressed through the preventive work of the contact point.
«What do I do if a girl is at risk or an affected person needs medical help, emotional support or support? How do I proceed? Whom can I contact? We will help anyone who asks these questions,” says Bella Glinksi, describing her task. The contact point against circumcision of girls in Eastern Switzerland and Liechtenstein in Rebstein is now the first stop. (PD)