ÖVP human rights spokeswoman: FGM and forced marriage also in Austria – active action required
Vienna (OTS/ÖVP-PK) – Waris Dirie feels “at home” in Austria: “After all, I have had Austrian citizenship for 19 years. In my eyes it is the most beautiful spot in Europe. I feel a special connection to Austria!”
Waris Dirie, supermodel, award-winning human rights activist, best-selling author and former UN special envoy against female genital cutting, visited yesterday, Sunday, on the occasion of the upcoming International Women’s Day at the invitation of the ÖVP human rights spokeswoman Abg. dr Gudrun Kugler and the Floridsdorf district manager deputy Christian Klar (ÖVP) the Donaustadt. First the film “Desert Flower” shown, followed by a panel discussion Waris Dirie, Christian Klar, Gudrun Kugler and Walter Lutschinger from the Desert Flower Foundation. The public welcomed Waris Dirie with standing ovations.
Unfortunately, the phenomenon of female genital mutilation (FGM) also a problem in Austria; Although illegal, circumcisions are sometimes even carried out in Austria: “Female genital mutilation happens all over the world. This cruel tradition has also reached Austria for some time. A study from 2006 showed that 8,000 mutilated girls live in Austria. At the moment the numbers are rising again, partly due to the wave of immigration that Austria has experienced,” says Dirie.
Walter Lutschinger described the work of the Desert Flower Foundation: “The affected women can be helped – the “Desert Flower” Foundation has doctors in four centers: Berlin, Amsterdam, Stockholm and Paris. These hospitals are trying to restore what was taken from the girls. There is already a surgical technique that restores the clitoris as much as possible. Doctors in our centers have already performed some reverse operations. But women also suffer from many different ailments, both physical (eg incontinence) and psychological. We therefore want to focus on holistic treatment, which also includes self-help groups, with which we have had very positive experiences.” There are also specialized outpatient clinics in Austria.
dep. Kugler spoke out in favor of more prevention work: “We must draw more attention to the issue in order to prevent girls from being circumcised on vacation in their countries of origin. To do this, we have to sensitize the communities and professional groups that deal with those affected. Counseling centers have already been set up. FGM is already given special consideration in development cooperation. In order to take action against child and forced marriages, we must raise the age of marriage to 18 without exception.”
Development cooperation also plays an important role: Lutschinger explained that “the countries with the highest illiteracy rate are identical to the poorest countries and to those that also practice genital mutilation. The commitment is having an effect: in Africa, the numbers of genital mutilation are declining sharply, while in Europe they are unfortunately increasing.”
Christian Klar, who is also the headmaster of a secondary school, told of everyday school life: “The sister of one of our students was supposed to fly to Egypt to be mutilated, because otherwise she would not be able to find a real husband. That was the first case that became known to us, and this is not an isolated case in Austria. We have to take preventive action in education and schools!” And further: “We also have forced marriages: I had a case where a girl was raped, beaten and forced into marriage. In the middle of Vienna: So these human rights violations are neither abstract nor isolated cases!”
Waris Dirie confirmed this and said: “More and better sex education is needed. The children must learn to respect each other. In particular, boys must learn to respect girls. There are too many machos and bullies these days. Truth, respect and rules are essential. I don’t think they know what it takes to give a woman the proper respect. When I asked boys about it, nobody could answer. Parents should also feel responsible – education doesn’t just start at school.”
Gudrun Kugler asked Waris Dirie if she was reconciled to her difficult fate. “I come from the desert,” she replied, “only today counts there. We are connected to the universe and nature. Some things you can change, some things you can’t. I look at the best sides of life. I only see the good. I feel nothing but forgiveness for everything bad that happens. How come? Because that’s what I decided to do.”
Kugler will continue to promote the issues of FGM, forced marriage and human trafficking as human rights spokeswoman for the People’s Party in Parliament, as will BVStv. Christian Klar in his functions as director and district politician.
Dirie was born in Somalia and was genitally mutilated there. Fleeing a forced marriage at the age of eleven, she came to London, where she was exploited as a child trafficking victim to work at the Somali embassy. The film “Desert Flower” shows her moving life path to becoming a committed superstar.
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