19 June: General Assembly: It will gather member organisations to reflect on the past year and collectively shape the road ahead. This occasion will mark the vote for new members! 

20 June: Knowledge Sharing Event: This year, the theme will be "Countering anti-rights narratives and the instrumentalisation of FGM". This event aims to foster the transfer of knowledge and good practices in other members’ contexts and increase their promotion at the regional level.

The End FGM E-Campus  is concluded:  after two years of hard work and great results, we held our last consortium meeting in Brussels, bringing together the incredible partners who made the platform possible! 

Now that the platform has been up and running for a while and continues to be perfected through the feedback received, we are ready to make it known all across the EU and wherever it is needed! Your help is key with this: find out what you can do to support and endorse the platform.

Read more about the project, find out how you can take the course and get  your certificate!

We are excited to invite you to an important event, co-organised with the World Health Organization, taking place online on May 13, 2025, at 15:00 CEST.

The event, titled "Ending FGM: Aligning Care, Policy, and Action" will introduce the End FGM E-Campus as a vital resource designed to support professionals working in the sector. 

Join the conversation, discover how the E-Campus can strengthen your efforts, show your support for building a future free from FGM and be part of the solution!

The New Cycle of the Ambassadors Programme Has Launched!

We're calling on passionate youth and senior activists from across Europe to join us in the fight to end female genital mutilation!

As an Ambassador, you'll receive training, connect with a vibrant network, and lead change.

Apply by the 17th May 2025 at the latest.

The Time is Now: End Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting, An Urgent Need for Global Response 2025 Report

On 25 February, together with Equality Now and the US End FGM/C Network, we launched The Time is Now: End Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting – An Urgent Need for Global Response 2025.

The report updates 2020 data and confirms FGM/C in at least 94 countries, including new evidence from Azerbaijan, Vietnam, and Cambodia. It calls for urgent global action and offers clear recommendations for governments and stakeholders.

This report received a lot of attention since its launch, and we took the opportunity of CSW69 to organise an in-person presentation of the report in New-York. If you haven’t done it yet, read it and share this with decision-makers in your network.

On the 7th of April, Xheni Dani, Policy and Advocacy Coordinator of the End FGM European Network was invited to speak at the European Parliament during the Chat Plus closing event in Brussels organised by Fondazione Albero della Vita.  

During this event, Xheni presented the work of the Network and the importance of a concerted effort to end FGM in Europe. These recommendations help shape gender equality priorities across the EU, particularly in relation to combating Violence Against Women and advancing the implementation of the Istanbul Convention.

The beginning of 2025 marked a new presidency for the Council, and it was Poland’s turn to take on the Presidency.

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, with a particular focus on the prevention of and support for FGM survivors.

The full letter includes detailed suggestions for the Polish Presidency’s priorities in the coming months.

Submission of Grevio Joint Shadow Report

In a joint effort with our member GAMS Belgium, we have submitted a shadow report to the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) analysing Belgium’s implementation of the Istanbul Convention on the first thematic evaluation started by GREVIO. 

In this report, we identify the missing elements and opportunities for Belgium to become a champion to end FGM based on the commitments included in the Istanbul Convention. This report was followed up by a visit from GREVIO to GAMS where they had the opportunity to exchange on the activities of our members and the needs of actors in the field. 

The End FGM European Network joined 330 other civil society organisations in signing an open letter calling on the EU to prioritise democracy and human rights in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). 

End FGM EU believes it must ensure that civil society organisations, especially those focused on combating violence against women, receive adequate support to continue their essential work.

As a key civil society actor committed to gender equality in the EU, the End FGM European Network contributes to the ongoing discussions on the next Multiannual Financial Framework 2027-2033. This process holds far-reaching implications for the future of the Union and its people.

Over the past few months, the Secretariat has been working to ensure the next European budget is in line with our priorities. 

Join Our Chain Final Conference in the European Parliament

The International Conference marking the end of the Join Our Chain project was held on 4 February 2025 at the European Parliament in Brussels. It launched Zero Tolerance Week for FGM and marked the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM (6 February).

The event highlighted the project's three intervention chains and engaged key stakeholders in the fight against FGM and EFM (Early and Forced Marriage). Hosted by MEP Maria Noichl (S&D, Germany, FEMM Committee), the conference brought together representatives from the European Commission and civil society, ensuring a high-level and inclusive discussion.

Red Estatal Libres de MGF Call for a State Protocol 

to Address FGM in Spain

On February 6th, the International Day of Zero Tolerance to FGM, Red Estatal Libres de MGF, promoted by UNAF and composed of over 20 NGOs, professionals, and activists, called on the Ministry of Equality to take decisive action to ensure the protection and support of FGM survivors through coordinated national measures.

Currently, nearly 80,000 women in Spain come from populations affected by FGM, including approximately 18,500 girls. In light of this, the Network is urging broader institutional collaboration, calling on the Ministries of Social Rights and the 2030 Agenda, Inclusion, Health, Education, Justice, and Foreign Affairs to work together to develop a unified response. This should include guaranteed access to essential services, such as healthcare, education, legal assistance, and social support, for all affected women and girls; enhanced training for professionals, grounded in an intercultural, gender-sensitive, and anti-racist approach; and the rollout of awareness-raising and prevention campaigns.

To guide this process, the Network has presented ten key proposals, addressing areas such as legislative reform, coordinated and specialised care, improved data collection, and the integration of intercultural mediation, all aimed at upholding survivors’ rights and well-being.

Valerie Lolomari, founder of Women of Grace UK, was honored to give oral evidence at the House of Commons to the Women and Equalities Committee, shedding light on the prevalence of FGM in the UK, its devastating impact, and the urgent need for stronger government action.

At the European Parliament in Brussels for International Zero Tolerance Day, she spoke on the importance of safe spaces where survivors can heal, rebuild, and thrive.

Ahlam Aziz, originally from Sudan, has been an FGM key person (sleutelpersoon) in the Netherlands since 2007. Trained by Zahra Naleie of FSAN and GGD Haaglanden, she has led numerous seminars and home visits for affected women in The Hague and Delft. 

Her work focuses on raising awareness about the health consequences of FGM, Dutch laws, and the importance of protecting girls during holidays abroad. 

A New Project to End FGM and EFM: 

TERRE DES FEMMES Launches "SAFE" 

Following the successful completion of the Join Our CHAIN project in February 2025, TERRE DES FEMMES is excited to announce the launch of its successor project, SAFE – Support and Aid for Female Genital Mutilation and Early and Forced Marriage. SAFE is committed to preventing and eliminating these harmful practices across six EU member states: Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain.

They are particularly thrilled to welcome two new partners—SAGSAG and Equipop—who join the long-standing allies TERRE DES FEMMES, End FGM EU, Action Aid Italy, and AkiDwA. Together, they aim to tackle FGM and EFM through community empowerment, professional training, and awareness-raising. A particular focused will be further placed on amplifying the voices of affected populations and elevating their needs on the political stage.

Central to SAFE are the Community Experts and Community Leaders, who will work to sensitise approximately 1,700 community members and train around 60 Community Multipliers. This will largely take place in refugee and migration centres where a big part of diaspora communities reside. In addition, 1,650 key professionals will receive education to better respond to FGM and EFM cases. SAFE will also create an online platform to facilitate EU-wide capacity building and mutual learning, fostering a coordinated response from institutions to provide vital protection and support for affected women and girls. To deepen the general knowledge on FGM and EFM even further 1,200 students and learners will be sensitised and trained. Multiple film screenings will disseminate the topics even further.

MEDIADORAS by Médicos del Mundo: 
Intercultural Mediation to End Gender-Based Violence

As part of the project TODAS: proyecto para la erradicación de la mutilación genital femenina, los matrimonios forzados y la poligamia en el Estado español, led by the NGO Médicos del Mundo and funded by the Dirección General de Atención Humanitaria e Inclusión social de la Inmigración, the "MEDIADORAS" exhibition has been showcased at the national level.

This exhibition highlights the key role of female mediators in the prevention of gender-based violence and in efforts to eliminate practices such as FGM and forced marriages.

Alongside the exhibition, the video "Mediation as a Path to Prevent Gender-Based Violence" features six Médicos del Mundo mediators who share their experiences and expertise.

Both the exhibition and the video emphasise the importance of intercultural mediation as a vital tool in eradicating harmful practices. Mediators act as bridges between affected communities and healthcare professionals, facilitating communication, trust, and culturally sensitive approaches to prevention.

Updates from the secretariat:

We bid farewell to Ludovica Stornaiuolo. 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! 

We welcome Victor Verdier, who will our new Senior Communications Officer.

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.