We bid farewell to Tania Hosseinian, our Policy and Advocacy Officer. We are deeply grateful for her dedication, expertise, and the invaluable contributions she has made to our mission. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors!

The End FGM EU Network wraps up an intense and rewarding year, celebrating the progress and achievements of key initiatives: Join Our Chain, End FGM E-Campus, and The Purple Chair Podcast. 

For Join Our Chain, Intervention Chains have been successfully implemented in Ireland, Germany, and Italy. We are now focused on advocacy and dissemination, engaging stakeholders, including Members of the European Parliament, through meetings and our upcoming international conference on February 4th at the European Parliament. This event will provide a platform to present outcomes and recommendations from the Intervention Chains, fostering collaboration with decision-makers. 

The End FGM E-Campus platform is advancing rapidly, with comprehensive training modules being prepared and translated into five languages to support professionals working with women and girls affected by FGM. The project has entered its dissemination phase, marked by two launches and multiple stakeholder engagements to maximize reach and impact. 

Meanwhile, our Youth Ambassadors have been phenomenal with The Purple Chair Podcast. Following its October launch, we released 10 episodes featuring thought-provoking conversations raising awareness about gender-based violence and FGM. You can listen to the episodes featuring our amazing youth ambassadors and special guests on YouTube, Amazon, and Spotify.

On 6th November, we marked the 10th-year anniversary of the End FGM EU Network with our event: "A Decade of Action - Shaping a Future Without FGM" in Brussels.The first day was held at the European Parliament, featuring inspiring speeches and powerful discussions. You can view pictures and key quotes from our speakers here.

The following day focused on capacity-building for our Members, featuring a workshop on social impact evaluation and specialized training sessions for our Ambassadors to strengthen their advocacy efforts.

On 7th November, our Fundraising Consultannt, led a dynamic session with End FGM EU’s Ambassadors, focusing on fundraising and local community engagement and advocacy strategies.  The session began with a reflection on the impact of End FGM EU’s work in raising awareness and advocating for stronger policies. Our Ambassadors shared insights on how they can engage local communities, raise awareness, and support fundraising efforts. They brainstormed event ideas, including network events in their local community and youth activities, and discussed ways to engage local authorities to increase visibility. The group also addressed challenges, such as the need for more resources and training to support their efforts. Ambassadors explored the key components of strong funding proposals, identified potential funding sources, and built confidence in applying for grants. They also participated in a Public Speaking and Communicating with Authorities workshop, where they developed personal communication styles that are both persuasive and culturally sensitive to FGM prevention.

The session concluded with actionable next steps, with each ambassador identifying at least one concrete action to take in the coming months to further our mission. The energy and commitment shown by our Ambassadors are truly inspiring, and we look forward to continuing to work together to make significant progress in ending FGM.

End FGM EU Director, Marianne Nguena Kana, attended an event organised by the Violence Against Women Division of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. The theme of the debate was ‘10 years of the Istanbul Convention: the role of civil society in advocating for ratification and implementation’ and Marianne had the opportunity to present on the topic of ‘the Istanbul Convention as an advocacy tool to end FGM in Europe and beyond’. Marianne engaged with the Committee of Ministers on various topics such as the rise of the far-right. Involvement of men in tackling FGM, enhancing the implementation of the Istanbul Convention and how the Committee can support this process. Congratulations to Marianne on an successful and informative exchange with the Committee and for taking the opportunity to highlight the work of the Network in this high level event! 

Over the last year, End FGM EU has been delving deeper into the topic of intersectionality and FGM. We are happy to share that we have launched the result of our work which is a position paper titled FGM, Religious Discrimination and Intersectionality! Building on our previous work on racism and intersectionality, End FGM EU established a working group, composed of members and ambassadors, to understand the role of religious misinterpretations in perpetuating the practice. This paper explores the ties and misconceptions between religion and FGM and makes recommendations on how to tackle FGM while addressing the religious discrimination faced by practicing communities and Survivors. To read our full paper check out this page.

On Monday, November 25, 2024, TERRE DES FEMMES hosted the 2024 Knowledge Sharing Event “Together for Change - A Decade of Fighting to End Female Genital Mutilation in Europe”. On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, TERRE DES FEMMES invited the partner organizations of the End FGM EU Network to Berlin to exchange knowledge on topics such as good practices in prevention, protective measures, asylum and the legal situation in different countries. 

The 2024 KSE related to the End FGM EU Campaign #FGMIsPatriarchy, framing FGM as a form of Violence Against Women and highlighting how it symbolically impacted all women beyond those directly affected. The event featured keynote addresses and panel discussions that explored the intersection of FGM and patriarchy, and how this form of violence against women was perpetuated by patriarchal systems and beliefs. The event also highlighted the progress made by the End FGM EU Network and its member organizations in advocating for the rights of women and girls, and the ongoing efforts to end this harmful practice. 

A particular focus was placed on good practices happening at national levels and promoting the transferability of these practices across Europe. Overall, the 2024 KSE aimed to facilitate collective learning and strengthen the capacity, outreach, and sustainability of End FGM EU and its members. Thank you to everyone that took part in the event and contributed to its success! Read the article or  watch the video.

In December, a new College of Commissioners officially took their seats and kick started their 4-year mandate at the European Commission. End FGM EU looks forward to building alliances with the new Commissioners and to working closely with them to progress our common goals of ending FGM and GBV. In particular we look forward to closely working with the Commissioner for Equality and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib. However, we are disappointed to see that there is no standalone Commissioner for equality and so it is important to make sure that FGM is high on the political mandate of the Commission. We reached out to some of the most relevant Commissioners to wish them a successful mandate and to call on them to take action toward fully implementing key policies, such as the Istanbul Convention and the Directive on Violence Against Women and to guarantee the application of the highest minimum standards of human rights in all policies. To introduce them to the work of the Network and our recommendations, we also sent them our Welcome Pack.

On the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and within the framework of the #16DaysOfActivism, the World Bank organised a webinar to discuss FGM and Disability. Speakers were invited to discuss the intersections between FGM and Disability and in particular to reflect on whether FGM should be framed as a disability. Our Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, Xheni Dani, participated in the panel discussion, presenting the work that the intersectional approach that the Network has adopted and the work done in collaboration with the European Disability Forum to explore the links between living both with FGM and other forms of disabilities.  The other guest speakers, Dr. Lorraine Koonce Farahmand, and Ngoltoingar Chantal Bayor spoke strongly in favour of recognising FGM as a form of disability and highlighting consequences and personal stories that make the case for this. End FGM EU looks forward to continuing the collaboration with global partners in pushing for progressive advocacy that can accelerate the elimination of FGM and provide all Survivors everywhere with the adequate and necessary support.  

On the 10th of December, the Network along with our partners of the violence against women coalition (Amnesty International, ILGA Europe, Center for reproductive rights, EL*C, WAVE, La Strada, PICUM, OII Europe and IPPF) organised a parallel session on the occasion of the EIGE Forum. This session titled: "Unlocking the EU Directive on violence against women: advancing prevention, support and justice for survivors of gender-based violence"; aimed at reviewing the newly adopted directive to find ways to approach this new legislation and create recommendations for its implementation. Aminata Sidibe and Julia De Clerck from GAMS joined us to share their expertise on the topic and explore the directive with the audience. In parallel, we published along with our partners a joint statement sharing our joint vision for gender equality.  

More generally this forum was the opportunity to connect with all the European actors focusing on gender equality, take stock of the past year and think together about the way ahead by launching the new Gender equality index 2024. While we regret the little reference to intersectionality, the lack of engagement with CSOs and the absence of reference to FGM engaging in such spaces is essential to further advance our advocacy work in the EU.  

On November 2nd, 18-year-old Rahye Diallo hosted the final Behavior Change Activity (BCA) of the TERRE DES FEMMES “Join Our CHAIN” project. Supported by her mother, Tiranke Diallo, chairwoman of Mama Afrika e.V. and one of our experienced Community Trainer, Rahye brought together eight young people to discuss the two important topics: Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) and Early and Forced Marriage (EFM).

This closing BCA placed a special emphasis on engaging and empowering youth. Recognizing their role as catalysts for change, Rahye created a safe space for her peers to share their thoughts and experiences. Her sensitive introduction to FGM/C and EFM sparked interest and fostered meaningful dialogue. The participants shared personal insights, highlighting the urgent need to address these challenges. Moreover, the discussions not only raised awareness but also encouraged participants to consider how they could inspire change within their own communities.

The event ended with a lively shared meal featuring vibrant conversation, laughter, and cultural exchange. This gathering not only deepened understanding but also built connections, underscoring the importance of community in addressing these issues. A big thank you to Rahye, Tiranke, and all our Community Trainers who organized several BCAs for their inspiring commitment. Explore more about the Join Our Chain Project here.

In recent months, AIDOS held three events to present the End FGM E-Campus platform on female genital mutilation to professionals, local authorities, and students, involving different realities on the Italian territory.

On December 2, a training course for psycho-social workers was organized at theFestival della Violenza Illustrata in Bologna; the same day in Rome, a lecture on FGM and anthropology was delivered at Sapienza University, during which the platform was presented to students. 

On December 3, we organized, in collaboration with the Florentine association Nosotras, an interdisciplinary round table in Florence with experts and local institutions.

The African Women's Organization (AWO) organized two Seminars on Child Protection in June and July 2024 in Vienna. Main Topic in these seminars were the protection of FGM on Girls and the protection of Violence against Children. The participants were representatives and social workers of different FGM affected communities and NGOs from Vienna and Graz. Lecturers were Mrs. Hadis from the AWO, Dr. Christa Pölzlbauer a psychologist, Kaja Reiter, nurse from the Vienna General Hospital, Hiba Mohamed Ali a lawyer, Lisanu Tilahun representative of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Austria and Abdou Nasser Idrisson a representant of a muslim community in Vienna. 

Further attendees were parents out of different FGM affected communities and of different religious believes. We have discussed deeply how to take care and protect the children from the pregnancy until birth and the upringing of them until adult age. It was discussed how to protect children psychologically, how to feed them well, how to protect them from wrong ideas and how to protect them from violence. The general situation of children was discussed. We have expressed that children are protect by the Austrian law which should be respected. We informed them that FGM is forbidden in Austria by law. It was decided that 2025 more of these seminars will be held in Vienna, in Graz and in Linz. The event was sponsored by the Austrian Ministry of Family and Youth.

EQUIPOP, in collaboration with Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Paris, co-hosted an event at the European Parliament with MEP Mélissa Camara to launch their new report "How to Build a Feminist Europe?.
The event provided insights into the rise of the far-right in Europe, explored key levers for action, and emphasized that periods of backlash against women’s rights can be opportunities to reaffirm feminist values and build progressive alliances. Equipop remains committed to mobilizing civil society, European institutions, feminist movements, and the media to turn the vision of a feminist Europe into reality. The report is available in Enligh and French. Read the report in French here 

This year was filled with important advocacy moments, with the EU elections, new College of Commissioners, the adoption of the Violence Against Women Directive and the situation in The Gambia, among other things. Our team at End FGM EU was working hard to make sure that tackling FGM was kept a priority and that the needs of Survivors and communities was heard by decision-makers, both new and old. Meanwhile events such as the Donors Working Group gave us the chance to work with our regional partners in the Global Platform to End FGM/C and advocate for better funding for this sector. Our team will take all that we have learnt and achieved this year and build on this with our members, partners and allies in 2025 and onwards! 

The PowHer Talk project by ActionAid International Sweden, was funded by Jämställdhetsmyndigheten, and launched in 2024 across six schools in the Stockholm and Uppsala regions. This initiative aims to create safe spaces for girls to openly discuss gender norms and design projects that promote equality and safety. Featuring 16 interactive sessions, this step-by-step guide supports schools and youth organizations in establishing their own safe spaces, empowering participants to foster meaningful discussions and drive positive change in their daily lives.

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an annual campaign running from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) to 10 December (Human Rights Day). This vital initiative highlights that violence against women is the most pervasive breach of human rights worldwide. In support of this campaign, we joined the ACT program of UN Women to raise awareness, advocate for change, and stand in solidarity with efforts to end gender-based violence.

The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) has published the Practical Guide on Applicants with Diverse Sexual Orientations, Gender Identities, Gender Expressions, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC). This guide is designed to assist Member States, asylum officers, policymakers, and other stakeholders in addressing the specific needs of LGBTIQ asylum applicants during the asylum and reception processes, by ensuring a more inclusive and supportive approach. The guide is structured into three interconnected sections: Cross-Cutting Elements, which offers guidance on legal frameworks, inclusive communication, and coordination; Examination Procedure, providing practical advice for handling SOGIESC-based asylum claims; and Reception, focusing on creating inclusive reception conditions for LGBTIQ applicants.

Your support is crucial in help us ending Female Genital Mutilation in Europe and beyond. Every donation, big or small, enables us to drive policy and advocacy efforts, support survivors, and empower member organisations to collaborate in eliminating FGM. Together, we can create a world free from FGM. Donate now and make a lasting impact.