Dr. Salome Mbugua:

We recommend gathering data on asylum cases granted on the grounds of FGM, as is greatly needed in Ireland. We ask that ORAC publishes domestic gender guidelines — it has told us it has — in the interest of transparency and to ensure decision-makers are aware of these at all stages. The domestic gender guidelines should recognise FGM as a human rights violation. We also recommend induction and in-service training to promote greater awareness of the circumstances of women in refugee-producing countries. Gender-sensitive techniques in interviewing should be utilised and gender-sensitive interview conditions should be provided to women seeking international protection regardless of whether a gender-related claim is provided in the first instance.