OpenLobby.EU
Explore

End Female Genital Mutilation - European Network

End FGM EU

End FGM European Network's vision is a world where women and girls are empowered and free from all forms of gender-based violence, in particular female genital mutilation, where their voices are heard, where they can enjoy their rights and make informed choices about their lives.

Lobbying Activity

Response to EU Civil Society Strategy

5 Sept 2025

The role of civil society organisations (CSOs) is critical for the good functioning of our societies; indeed, one cannot ignore the essential role played by civil society actors in providing services and protecting the rule of law and fundamental rights. This is particularly true for underrepresented and vulnerable groups, including individuals and communities affected by female genital mutilation (FGM). Civil society and community-led (voluntary) association are often the main, if not the only, barrier-free resource for support and accompaniment. Civil society actors fill in important gaps between institutions and people in situations of vulnerability, representing their interests and real needs, reducing distances that allow for access to the enjoyment of basic fundamental rights and services. In an increasingly shrinking civic space1, with recurrent attacks and threats to the work of CSOs, the expertise and in-depth knowledge of CSOs and Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) needs to be recognised and supported. In particular, CSOs and HRDs working on topics such as womens rights, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), gender equality, LGBTIQ+ rights etc. are at an increased risk of facing backlash and attacks including from institutions. For these reasons, we welcome the initiative by the European Commission to adopt an EU Civil Society Strategy reaffirming the key role played by CSOs and the need to preserve and protect an independent and working civic space. For the Civil Society strategy to be effective, it is crucial that an intersectional approach is used when shaping it. It is key to understand and acknowledge the challenges faced by people carrying multiple identities such as FGM-affected communities; recognise the expertise of those directly affected; encourage and set in place mechanisms for better community engagement.
Read full response

Response to Anti-racism Strategy

8 Jul 2025

At the end of the period covered by the current EU-wide Anti-Racism action plan, we unfortunately witness that racism and discrimination remain prevalent, if not increasing, in the European Union. Racial discrimination is also deeply linked to gender-based violence such as female genital mutilation (FGM). FGM-affected communities face intersecting forms of discriminations that include racism, xenophobia and islamophobia. Racism is prevalent and systemic within society and must be recognised and addressed to ensure fairness, inclusivity, and effectiveness including towards ending FGM. Racism affects FGM Survivors and affected communities in multiple ways[1], including: - Limited access to healthcare, education, housing and social services, particularly for asylum seekers and refugees; - Prejudice, racial profiling and stereotyping, which fuel mistrust and hinder support; - Institutional barriers that require Survivors to repeatedly prove their trauma and worthiness of protection. For the next anti-racism strategy to be effective, it is crucial that an intersectional approach is used when shaping it. It is key to understand and acknowledge the challenges faced by racialised people and FGM-affected communities; recognise the expertise of those directly affected; encourage and set in place mechanisms for community engagement.
Read full response

Meeting with Benedetta Scuderi (Member of the European Parliament)

29 Apr 2025 · female genital mutilation

Meeting with Evin Incir (Member of the European Parliament)

27 Mar 2025 · Discussion on ending female genital mutilation and gender based violence

Meeting with Marc Angel (Member of the European Parliament)

20 Mar 2025 · FGM

Meeting with Maria Walsh (Member of the European Parliament)

18 Mar 2025 · FGM

Meeting with Hadja Lahbib (Commissioner) and

3 Feb 2025 · Discussion on combating female genital mutilation and other harmful practices against women and girls.

Meeting with Halliki Voolma (Cabinet of Commissioner Hadja Lahbib)

27 Jan 2025 · Female genital mutilation and gender-based violence

Meeting with Cecilia Strada (Member of the European Parliament)

17 Dec 2024 · Exchange of views on the practice of female genitale mutilations in Europe and beyond

Meeting with Maria Noichl (Member of the European Parliament)

11 Dec 2024 · female genital mutilation (FGM) and early forced marriage (EFM)

Meeting with Evin Incir (Member of the European Parliament)

6 Nov 2024 · Human rights

Meeting with Catarina Martins (Member of the European Parliament) and International Planned Parenthood Federation European Network

3 Oct 2024 · Sexual and reproductive health

Meeting with Isabel Wiseler-Lima (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and Save the Children Europe and

4 Sept 2024 · Human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union s policy on the matter – annual report 2024

Meeting with Frances Fitzgerald (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and Amnesty International Limited and

14 Sept 2023 · Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence

Meeting with Frances Fitzgerald (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and EUROPEAN TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION and

27 Oct 2022 · Proposal for a Directive on combatting violence against women and domestic violence

Meeting with Isabel Wiseler-Lima (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and Brot für die Welt and

16 Jun 2022 · Annual Report 2022 - Human Rights

Meeting with Lesia Radelicki (Cabinet of Commissioner Helena Dalli)

25 Mar 2022 · Project CHAIN

Meeting with Lesia Radelicki (Cabinet of Commissioner Helena Dalli)

30 Jun 2021 · VC , speaker "Men Standing Up for Gender Equality"

Response to Extension of the list of EU crimes to hate speech and hate crime

20 Apr 2021

End FGM European Network strongly supports the initiative to extend the list of EU crimes in Article 83 TFEU to include hate speech and hate crime on all proposed grounds of sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/sex characteristics, disability and age. It would also be important to include as grounds for hate speech and hate crimes race, colour, religion, descent, national or ethnic origin. Indeed, Article 2 TFEU clarifies that the EU is founded on common values of equality, respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities, and non-discrimination (also reiterated in Article 21 of the EU Charter on Fundamental Rights). Moreover, Article 10 TFEU explicitly states that in defining and implementing its policies and activities, the Union shall aim to combat discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. In this regard, the EU cannot succeed in combatting discrimination based on all the aforementioned grounds, without looking at the consequences that such discrimination causes. Hate speech and hate crimes based on those grounds (and including based on many intersecting grounds) are the manifestations, direct results and clear consequences of discrimination, have a clear international dimension and cannot be clearly separated. Taking into consideration specifically hate speech and hate crimes on the grounds of gender, it is clear, particularly when looking at online and offline sexist hate speech, that this has no boundaries and that it has a cross-border dimension and can have a spillover effect with particularly serious consequences on the mental and physical wellbeing of all women and girls in many countries. Moreover, it can create harmful impacts on society as a whole, including the polarisation of the society, the creation of social conflicts, as well as of a climate of fear with a chilling effect on freedom of expression for women and girls in all their diversity. Through the increasing use of social media, people across the EU are exposed to similar online content, including the same hateful rhetoric. Furthermore, we have seen through the generalised recent increasing backlash on women’s rights, gender equality (and particularly on the right to decide over their own bodies) within several Member States in the EU that the ideologies behind hate speech messages are developed internationally by well-organised movements and are cross-border phenomena who then spread and plant seeds in many different Member States. This has also been exemplified by the 2020 EP resolution on FGM tabled by ID MEPs from different countries, which was harmful, aggressive, inaccurate and stigmatising and included several worrying misconceptions about FGM, clearly instrumentalising it to serve a European xenophobic, Islamophobic and anti-migrant agenda. It is also important to acknowledge that not all hate speech and hate crimes are criminalised in all EU Member States, and the EU could have an important role in harmonising the situation and in tackling the spreading of these offences through a regional perspective. In our opinion, the main objective to include hate speech and hate crime on the basis of all the aforementioned grounds would be to enable the EU to adopt further legislative measures in the future. The main reason why these offences should be included in the list of Eurocrimes are: their cross-border dimension, since they may lead to the commission of crimes in (an) other Member State(s); the developments in these areas of crime, since trends show an increase of these phenomena, specifically on attacks and backlash on women’s rights in Europe and racism, anti-Muslim agenda; to address and effectively tackle the extremist ideologies behind hate speech and hate crime; to address existing gaps and shortcomings at national level as regards the prosecution of hate speech and/or hate crime and the protection of victims.
Read full response

Meeting with Helena Dalli (Commissioner)

6 Feb 2020 · Ending female gential mutilation

Meeting with Lesia Radelicki (Cabinet of Commissioner Helena Dalli)

16 Jan 2020 · Ending female genital mutilation, prepatory meeting for Commissioners meeting in February

Meeting with Irena Andrassy (Cabinet of Vice-President Neven Mimica), Maria-Myrto Kanellopoulou (Cabinet of Vice-President Neven Mimica)

25 Jul 2018 · Introductory meeting to discuss opportunities for future cooperation