Bally Bagayoko explained that his group abstained during the vote on a wish presented by the opposition elected officials from the Socialist, Environmentalists, and Citizens group at the municipal council. The text focused on the protection of girls and women against excision and female genital mutilation, as well as the adoption of a comprehensive law against sexist and sexual violence (SSV). He said that his group supported the fight against mutilations and reminded that nearly 500 patients received follow-up each year in the municipality. He also praised the work of the Women's House, Delafontaine Hospital, and various associations, and asked the State to strengthen the resources allocated for prevention and medical follow-up. According to Bally Bagayoko, the abstention concerned the request to quickly adopt the law on SSV. He indicated that the bill had been significantly amended in committee at the National Assembly the week of the municipal council, and its content remained uncertain. His group had asked to remove references to this law from the wish in order to be able to vote in favor of the text on the fight against excision, but the opposition had refused, he wrote. He believed that this refusal had hindered the pursuit of an agreement and denounced a political instrumentalization of the issue. The group ultimately abstained in order not to block the wish, which was adopted, while not supporting all of its content, he noted. #Excision #DroitsDesFemmes #LutteContreLesViolences (translated)
