Decision of the Court of Appeal of Catania of 27 November 2012

Through this decision, the Court of Appeal of Catania reformed the decision of the competent Territorial Commission to not recognize refugee status to a women born in Nigeria, who had fled her country to escape infibulation. The Court found that female genital mutilation is a form of violent discrimination against women. The Court also mentioned the interpretation of Article 3 of the ECHR by the European Court of Human Rights, according to which female genital mutilation must be regarded as a cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.