The End FGM EU  begins the new season with mixed emotions as we bid farewell to Blaithin, a valued team member. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for her outstanding contributions to the Network over the past few months. At the same time, we are thrilled to welcome two new members to the Secretariat: Queralt Perarnau, our new Senior Project Officer, and Marianne Nguena Kana, our new Interim Director. Marianne joins us after four years with GAMS Belgium and will be covering Anna's responsibilities during her maternity leave.

We are thrilled to announce that we recently gathered for another successful General Assembly, reuniting our Board, Members, Ambassadors, and Secretariat.  On June 20th, we had the pleasure of expressing our heartfelt gratitude to our outgoing Board Members, Aminata Bah and Cynthia Karanja, for their dedicated service and contributions to the Network.  We are pleased to introduce our new board members, Rohma Ullah and Sona Fati, who have recently joined the board. More details about their roles on the Board will be shared in the coming weeks.

This year marked an important moment for the EU, as the European Elections took place on June 6th - 8th and our Policy and Advocacy team was working hard on the Network’s EU Elections Campaign!! It was important to ensure that FGM was kept high on the agenda of decision-makers and that we gathered the support of new and old allies coming into the new parliamentary mandate. Our team, with the help of our members, drafted and launched an EU Elections Manifesto! The 6 commitment Manifesto calls on candidates to help us in achieving gender equality and ending FGM, their signature means that we can count on their allyship if they are elected. The Secretariat and our Members worked hard to collect pledges from all across Europe, and gather commitments from candidates and political parties to take a stand against FGM for the next 5 years. We want to say a special thank you for the help of all our Members and to all the newly elected MEPs who pledged their commitment. In the end, we gathered signatures from 144 candidates from 11 member states! 

We look forward to working closely with our allies over the next 5 years and building on the great work we have collectively achieved in the last mandate! 

The long-awaited Directive on combatting violence against women has finally been adopted! This is a monumental step forward in the path toward ending FGM and is a reflection of the dedicated work put in by individuals and organisations in the lead up to this instrument. 

This means, we finally have a European legal framework which criminalises FGM, sets minimum penalties and obliges Member States to provide specialist support services, raise awareness and provide training on the topic. 

While the directive itself has shortcomings, especially with regard to the absence of rape and the lack of protection of undocumented migrant women, we welcome it’s adoption as it is the first instrument tackle gender-based violence in the EU.

In collaboration with other CSOs we have published a joint reaction to the directive which can be found here.   

This year the 6th of February fell during the plenary session of the European Parliament, meaning that MEPs were based in Strasbourg for the week, and so to mark the day our team did something a little different! 

A delegation of the secretariat Xheni Dani (Policy and Advocacy coordinator) and Myriam Mhamedi (former senior Communications and Campaign officer) and two of our ambassadors Sona Fati and Imtinan Abdulkarim ventured to Strasbourg and set up a boot in the Parliament to draw MEPs attention to the international day of 0 tolerance. 

This also marked the launch of our annual campaign for 2024 #FGMisPatriarchy and gave us the opportunity to promote our Manifesto for the EU elections.

Have a look at our reaction here to the event to read more on what happened on the day. 

The beginning of 2024 marked a new presidency for the Council, and it was Belgium’s turn to take the seat. In welcoming the new Presidency for their 6-month mandate, we issued a letter to them containing recommendations on how they can ensure their commitment to gender equality and ending gender-based violence. In addition, Xheni Dani and Anna Widegren met with a delegate spokesperson from the Secretary of State for Equality team to discuss our priorities and opportunities for collaboration in the framework of this presidency. As the Belgian presidency came to an end in July, the Hungarian mandate began. We took this opportunity to issue a letter to the Hungarian team to highlight the shortcomings in their presidency programme as well as the stark absence of gender equality commitments, and to call on them to take more action for women’s rights! 

The EU co-funded project Join our CHAIN - coordinated by TERRE DES FEMMES with partners AkiDwA in Ireland, ActionAid in Italy and End FGM EU, continues to be implemented. The project uses a community-based approach as a means of addressing FGM and EFM, both forms of gender-based violence. This approach emphasizes working closely with affected diaspora communities at the local level, training community leaders and strengthening community trainers to counter FGM and EFM as multipliers at various levels. Key professionals and stakeholders from public authorities or key institutions involved in FGM/EFM prevention, protection and support for survivors are additionally trained under the project and involved in the development of model intervention chains (ICs).

By March 2024, 24 community trainers had been selected by AkiDwA, ActionAid and TERRE DES FEMMES, and several empowerment meetings and trainings have taken place. The community trainers have started conducting their community activities and trainings for key professionals. In April, the new Intervention Chain developed under the project was published and launched in Germany, providing vital information and context on FGM/C and EFM, as well as case studies and a comprehensive list of resources and contact points. Launch events for intervention chains in Ireland and Italy are additionally planned at the end of May.

End FGM EU is developing a video tutorial in 3 languages (English, German and Italian) to engage key professionals in joining ICs. The tutorial will be launching soon.

We closely followed the concerning situation in The Gambia and strongly opposed the proposed repeal of the ban on FGM. 
FGM remains a widespread issue in The Gambia, and reversing the ban would have meant undoing years of hard work by grassroots organizations, activists, decision-makers, and civil society. Such a move would have been a major setback in the global effort to end FGM.

On April 24, 2024, the EU Parliament adopted a resolution urging The Gambia to uphold the ban and honor its commitments to women’s rights. End FGM EU contributed to this resolution and supported the Parliament’s initiative to condemn the actions of The Gambia and highlight the detrimental impact of reversing the ban.

In response, we drafted a position statement together with the advocacy working group, on the proposed repeal and signed a joint statement with the Global Platform for Action to End FGM/C.

On July 15th, The Gambia made its final decision and upheld the ban on FGM. 
This outcome is a significant victory for Gambian activists, the global movement to #EndFGM, and everyone who has worked tirelessly to protect all women and girls  in their diversity.

Every year, we use our Annual Campaign as a way to raise awareness on a specific aspect of our work to end FGM in Europe & beyond. This year's campaign is centered around the Violence Against Women (VAW) Directive, Harmful Practices recommendation and the need for more political commitment to end FGM. 

FGM is as a form of patriarchal violence against all women, just like any other forms of VAW/Gender-Based Violence (GBV). Together, we can make a difference and create a world where every girl and woman is free from the harm of FGM. 

"No one is safe from FGM as long as it persists"  

Help us raise awareness about the prevalence of FGM in Europe and the harm it causes to girls and women. Share your toughts, stories, and messages about FGM, GBV, and global solidarity with all women using the hashtag #FMGisPatriarchy.   

On the 6th of February, AIDOS launched a guide on “How to involve men and boys to end female genital mutilation”. Produced in the framework of the project Gender Transformative Approaches to Ending Female Genital Mutilation – Phase 2. Involving men for sustainable change, the brochure offers some tips and inputs that can be useful when developing and implementing activities involving men and boys to tackle the practice.

In fact, since FGM is rooted in gender inequality and power imbalances, it is crucial to work on these in order to put an end to it, and therefore it is important to involve the whole society. The guide is available for download both in English and in French. 

In the last months, AIDOS has delivered training sessions on FGM addressed to students and professionals at the University of Bologna, The International Association for Political Science Students of Padova, and the feminist association VaZine of Tuscany.

On the 17th of April, AIDOS launched the 2024 Unfpa’s State of the World Population Report “Interwoven Lives, Threads of Hope: Ending inequalities in sexual and reproductive health and rights”, marking the 30th anniversary of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development held in Cairo. 

The “Men Standing up for Gender Equality – Amplifying Change” project coordinated by LESSAN e.V. in Germany and the beneficiaries Femmes Entraide et Autonomie (FEA) in France and Stichting HIMILO in the Netherlands has now come to an end. 

We look back on two very successful years in which we sensitised over 3500 people about FGM/C, EFM and Domestic Violence through which multiple genital mutilations could already be prevented. More than 50 trainings of counsellors, social & youth workers, social pedagogues, educators, doctors, gynaecologists, police officers, health centres, midwives and local city councils took place.

Additionally, more than 1500 girls, women and community members received counselling from LESSAN, FEA and HIMILO. The three partners are all points of first contact in Germany, France, and the Netherlands for those affected by FGM/C, EFM and other forms of gender-based violence. 

The developed Papillon app offers a self-diagnosis tool regarding domestic violence and FGM/C and a role game provides an insight into the migration journey of a woman who is trying to protect her daughter from FGM/C.

The Change Mediators and Change Champions are continuing the awareness raising activities beyond the project’s end to increase its sustainability.

As part of the EU Project Join our CHAIN, TERRE DES FEMMES e.V. presented on the 

3^rd of May 2024 the new Intervention Chain "Guidelines for dealing with those affected by and at risk of female genital mutilation/cutting and early and forced marriage in Baden Württemberg/Germany". 

The project “Intervention Chain” began with numerous discussions involving representatives from the medical, political, social, police and legal fields. In September 2023, TERRE DES FEMMES set up a "temporary working group" in which the above-mentioned experts were represented. 

Various working group meetings were held to discuss needs, legal innovations, etc. As an outcome, the newly published guidelines provide a comprehensive overview of the reasons, consequences and legal steps relating to FGM and EFM. In addition to advice on how to conduct culturally sensitive conversations and how to deal with dangerous situations, new case studies have been developed for the specialist areas of asylum, daycare and school, medical and police advice, which are intended to clarify the individual steps once again. 

We hope that these guidelines will provide a lot of professionals with good support in the dealings with those affected and those at risk. The brochure is currently being translated into English, but you can already find the German version here.

In addition to that TERRE DE FEMMES e.V. decided to compose two open letters, to show solidarity with supporters of the current legal ban on FGM in The Gambia and with this support a delegation of activists traveling to The Gambia in mid May. The first letter is addressed to the German government, the second letter is addressed to the Gambian National Assembly and the Gambian president with the polite and respectful request to maintain the ban on FGM. 

TERRE DE FEMMES worked closely together with Gambian and Senegalese activists to draft the letters. At the beginning of May the letters were sent out to organizations and other partners to co-sign them and in the middle of May the co-signed letters will be send out to the recipients in the hope of supporting the work of activist with that.

The Y-ACT Project (Youth in Action for Change), co-funded by the European Union (CERV – DAPHNE), is led by Amref Health Africa Italia and partnered by the National Coordination of New Italian Generations - CoNNGI, Le Reseau, University of Milan Bicocca. 

The Y-ACT Project foresees the direct involvement of youth with a migrant background and members of the target communities, to implement community-focused interventions to prevent GBV and FGM, through youth empowerment training, intergenerational dialogues and commitments, awareness-raising initiatives in communities, led by trained youth. 

The aim is to promote lasting and transformative changes in attitudes and behaviours towards gender-based violence and FGM through the direct involvement and empowerment of youth and communities. 

The project is ongoing in Italy, in 4 regions (Lazio, Lombardia, Piemonte and Veneto) and will last until February 2025. A 2-day workshop was held in Rome, on 6 February 2024, for the 31 youth aged 18-30 involved in the project. 

The workshop was a training event at the end of the first year. The second day of the meeting took place at the Campidoglio in Rome. During the event, youth had the opportunity to talk about their experience in the Y-ACT project and their commitment to change. Starting in March 2024, youth-led awareness-raising activities will be carried out in the communities of the 4 territories.

From the area of Cultures, Gender and Sexuality of UNAF, we recognise the urgent need to raise awareness about FGM. That is why, once again, we organised the 13th International Day against this practice, under the title 'Violence as Ritual: Global Actions against Structural Violence'. 

In this event, which was attended by more than 370 people, we created a space for reflection and dialogue to address the various forms of violence against women, with a special focus on FGM.

During the day, we addressed crucial issues such as the impact of public policies on women's lives and bodies, delved into the legislative framework and emphasised the value of comprehensive care for girls and young women survivors of FGM.

Preventing FGM requires a comprehensive approach that addresses its root causes and promotes the total care of women and girl survivors. In this line, we work with FGM survivors in continuity groups, providing information and accompaniment for empowerment and the creation of joint tools.

By addressing, raising awareness and preventing FGM, we are moving towards a future where living free from violence and discrimination is a reality for all.

FORWARD is a member of a new project in the UK which aims to establish a National Centre of Excellence providing FGM reconstruction surgery as a treatment option for FGM survivors. This is in response to the growing demand for reconstruction surgery for women affected by FGM. In the UK, the NHS currently do NOT offer reconstruction surgery, although the UK has been instrumental in leading on the provision of FGM specialist services providing multiple support including ‘de-infibulation’ for women who have had FGM Type 3. This initiative will provide reconstruction surgery as part of an integrated service within a holistic care package offering psychosexual and trauma therapy alongside other treatment options and support. The initiative brings together multiple stakeholders including specialist medical personnel working with women’s health, FGM researchers, midwives, specialist FGM counsellors, FGM survivors and health advocate, as well as FGM charities who support women with FGM. 
On 6^th February 2024, this project was officially launched in London and included the launch of a parliamentary petition for FGM survivors to access clitoral reconstruction surgery and emotional support through the NHS. 

Following on from our Executive Director, Naana’s trip to Sierra Leone in February, we will soon be launching our Sierra Leone fundraising appeal, which will go towards our partnership with the Girl to Girl Empowerment Movement (G2G), transforming the lives of young girls and empowering them to stay in education and protecting them from gender-based violence such as FGM and child marriage, and child pregnancies. 

We are proud to announce that the Erasmus+ funded project has resulted in the creation of a podcast series, produced by youth for youth, focusing on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Gender-Based Violence. This innovative project was developed in collaboration with the Network's Youth Ambassadors. The podcast series will be officially launched in October, coinciding with the European Week Against Gender-Based Violence (EWAG), where we will come together to raise awareness and promote a culture of zero tolerance towards FGM and Gender-Based Violence.

The End FGM E-Campus is an online learning platform designed for professionals across various fields and sectors, including healthcare, asylum, social welfare, law enforcement, education, and civil society. It aims to provide culturally appropriate, specialized support and protection to women and girls affected by FGM. 
Developed in collaboration with our partners and co-funded by the EU, the platform will officially launch on the 12th of September.

Follow our official LinkedIn and Facebook profiles for updates and more information.

We’re excited to offer you the chance to host our 2024 Knowledge Sharing Event (KSE) and receive funding from our EU Operating Grant. This is a great opportunity to showcase your expertise and foster knowledge exchange to end FGM. The KSE aims to replicate successful practices and enhance regional promotion, providing members and ambassadors a space to meet and exchange ideas on FGM and GBV. 

By applying to organize the event, you can access a budget of €43,000 to cover event costs, including staff and venue expenses. The event should ideally take place in October or November, with reporting completed by December 20, 2024.

Eligible applicants are Network member organizations within the EU with a realistic plan and sufficient resources. Your proposal should detail how you’ll organize the event and engage participants, including members, ambassadors, and affected communities.

This year’s KSE will focus on framing FGM as Violence Against Women, in alignment with our #FGMIsPatriarchy campaign. It’s also a chance to mark End FGM EU’s 10th anniversary and share impactful initiatives. Apply by September 9th!