More than 20 African countries have tried to enforce laws against the practices of FGM but these laws somehow seem to be unenforceable. Although top government officials may want to enforce these laws, the problem remains at the local and communal level. Still, many people believe in these traditions and local officials don't understand and refuse to enforce the laws against FGM. Some sources even say that these laws are not enforced because they are "too" harsh. For example, a new law in Uganda would consider up to 10 years imprisonment on traditional surgeons and 15 years on parents. If the girl acutally dies the practitioner could face life improsenment.

But there is light, people try to act against FGM and are opening schools for girls who face FGM and would like to be safe.

A single example ... A 10 year old girl who was suppose to be married to a 69 year old man for 45 cows. Furthermore, she was soon to be "cut". The girl run away to the boarding school of Kajiado, Kenya. And since then she has been safe.

In the whole 16th Legislature the Committee for Foreign Affairs has decided only once on refugee matters, in regard to Iraq and through initiative of the Greens:
antrag der gruenen im bundestag (pdf, 77 KB)

In this it is acknowledged that every month 60.000 Iraqis leave their country! Around one quarter of the Iraqi people is fleeing: 4.4 milion people! But nobody reports this crisis in the mainstream media...

As well the initiative to offer more help to Iraqi refugees has been cruelly refused by the CDU and SPD with the help of the recommendations of other committees which they control through their majority, even if Germany and all other European countries would be in the position to help!
ablehnung des antrags seitens cdu und spd (pdf, 73 KB)

I have asked today on Abgeordnetenwatch.de to the candidate Andreas Steppuhn about this decision of his party and his personal opinion! We need to inform ourselves much more widespread...our everyday media is extremely politically biased!

For further reading of the Green Human Rights Policy, have a look at the following reader, which is outlining the various initiatives undertaken in order to better the human rights involvement of Germany.
green politics of human rights (pdf, 408 KB)

The German associationFRAUENRAT, linking around 30 organisations concerned with the Equality among the Sexes, has invested a huge amount of time elaborating a serious comparison of the programmes of the German political parties running for the 17th Parliamentary Elections on 27th September 2009.

We may choose!
equality among the sexes - 17th german parliamentary elections (pdf, 119 KB)

As we have the direct vote for one specific candidate of our region, we should try to choose the one which fits best to our opinions and worldviews. In order to give us a broad comparison Abgeordnetenwatch.de has organized an online Candidatecheck!

Following the link
http://www.abgeordnetenwatch.de/projects/kandidatencheck/popup.html

and inserting your Postal code, you will answer around 40 questions around work, health, economy, foreign policy, family, security, etc, which will be compared with the preferences of the direct candidates of our regions. The result can give you a first overview of the candidates most affine to you.

Have a go!!