Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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532. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on being trade partners with countries that do little to enforce the laws against the practice of female genital mutilation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13391/16]

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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533. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount his Department allocated to schemes that tackle female genital mutilation in Egypt, Sudan, Mali, Somalia, Sierra Leone and Guinea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13392/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 532 and 533 together.

We regard the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) as a clear violation of the human rights of women and girls. It represents one of the most pervasive forms of gender based violence. Its prevalence in certain regions is in general not the result of Government policy but of traditional practice, based on a complex range of factors.

Experience has shown that, through constructive engagement with Governments and communities, consistent progress on harmful practices such as FGM can be achieved. While the rate of progress has been uneven, there has been a considerable decline in the prevalence of FGM over the past three decades. The achievement of agreement at the United Nations in 2015 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development includes a target shared by all UN members to eliminate the practice of FGM by 2030. Ireland played a central role in co-facilitating the process which led to this agreement and, nationally, advocated strongly for the inclusion of the target on FGM.

Our trade relations with countries in which FGM is prevalent do not have a particular relevance to the work to eliminate the practice. They do not in any way prevent us from raising human rights issues. Ireland has made strong statements against FGM internationally, in particular during our term in the Human Rights Council. For example, we made specific recommendations in relation to FGM in the context of the Universal Periodic Review of Guinea. These recommendations were accepted by the Government of Guinea.

In addition through our programme of development assistance, we focus on tackling many of the root causes of FGM, including persistent poverty, gender inequality, and gender based violence. Our aid programme in Sierra Leone prioritises the empowerment of women and girls, and in 2015, for instances we provided more than €2 million to address some of the root causes of FGM in the country.

We also provide core funding to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the UN Fund for Children (UNICEF) which operate a Joint Programme on FGM in 17 countries, including Egypt, Sudan, Mali, Somalia, and Guinea. In 2015, Ireland provided €7.2 million in core funding to UNICEF, and €2.8 million in core funding to the UNFPA.

We also support UN Women and the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women. Operating at local, national and international levels, these UN agencies work to combat gender inequality, to mobilise action by young people, families, communities, and civil society groups to end the practice of female genital mutilation.