13 November 2016, 16:15
Georgian Ombudsman confirms information about female circumcision in three villages
In Georgia, the practice of female circumcision is applied against girls in domestic conditions by residents of the Avar villages of Tivi, Saruso, and Chantliskure. This was reported by agents of the Georgian Ombudsman.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 4, the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) reported on dissemination of female circumcision in Georgia. After the report, the Georgian Ombudsman's Office launched a check.
According to the IWRP, female circumcision procedure is applied against girls from villages in Kakheti, where about 3000 ethnic Avars live.
"In conversation with agents of the Ombudsman, local residents have confirmed the application of such practice of female circumcision, which they call 'christening'. According to the locals, during the procedure, parts of the girls' clitoris are cut off," reports the website of the Georgian Ombudsman's Office.
The Georgian Ombudsman has demanded from the Parliament of Georgia to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.
The problem of female circumcision in Dagestan became the subject for wide discussion after the results of the study carried out by the "Justice Initiative" were published in August 2016. Human rights defenders noted that female genital mutilation procedures took place with the support of official religious figures.
Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.
