Shadow Report on Istanbul Convention implementation in Germany

On 11 September 2020, the End FGM European Network and its German Members LebKom, Lessan, and TERRE DES FEMMES submitted a Shadow Report to the Council of Europe GREVIO Committee, on the implementation of the Istanbul Convention by Germany concerning prevention, protection, prosecution and integrated policies on FGM.

This report represents the German chapter of a wider coordinated effort of End FGM EU to engage all its Members in countries which are under GREVIO revision to present an FGM-focused report in order to bring the topic to the experts’ attention, which is too often neglected by State authorities.

In this report, a range of different topics surrounding FGM in Germany are addressed, such as the Legal Framework (including criminal, asylum child protection and professional secrecy laws) and the existing Policy Framework. The report also highlights existing issues and recommendations regarding prevention, protection, prosecution and integrated policies of FGM. This report addresses existing gaps whilst offering comprehensive solutions to tackling FGM in Germany.

This project stems from our Guide on the Istanbul Convention as a tool to end Female Genital Mutilation. It puts in practice the Guide’s holistic approach, by considering its full application to FGM as a form of violence against women and girls which needs to be addressed through prevention, protection, prosecution and integrated policies. It does not only analyse the application of the specific FGM Article 38 of the Istanbul Convention, but addresses the full range of articles in the Convention and how they are applied to tackle FGM in Germany.