12 February 2020

Today, the European Parliament adopted a Resolution calling for an EU strategy to put an end to female genital mutilation (FGM) around the world. This Resolution is a call for action to ensure that FGM is present in all EU policy documents which are being currently negotiated, to increase EU budget allocated to this cause both internally and externally. It also calls to review the 2013 Communication ‘Towards the elimination of female genital mutilation’ in order to step up efforts against the practice worldwide, as well as to tackle the disparities in laws, policies, services and provisions among the Member States.

“No culture or tradition can justify violence against women and girls. Female Genital Mutilation is a gross and systematic violation of human rights, and a barbaric form of violence against women and girls, thus a manifestation of gender inequality. It is fundamental to ensure that women and girls affected or at risk of FGM can access equal standards of treatment throughout the EU. Time is now to scale-up our EU efforts to achieve zero FGM and protect millions of girls from it. Let’s join forces to ensure the elimination of FGM worldwide by 2030!” – said MEP Hilde Vautmans, Co-Chair of the Intergroup on Children’s Rights.

According to the latest figures of UNICEF, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) at least 200 million women and girls in 30 countries are affected by FGM, in over 90 countries across all continents. In Europe alone, it is estimated that around 600 000 women and girls in Europe are living with the lifelong physical and psychological consequences of FGM, and a further 180 000 girls are at a high risk of FGM in 13 European countries alone.

FGM is traditionally performed on girls, and girls below 14 years old represent 44 million of those who have been cut, so FGM is also a clear child’s rights issue. This year alone, 4.1 million of girls are at risk of FGM if we don’t increase efforts to prevent it.

— ENDS —

For more info:

Emilio Puccio, Coordinator of the Intergroup on Children’s Rights

E: emilio.puccio@europarl.europa.eu