2025 Knowledge Sharing Event: Countering the instrumentalisation of Female Genital Mutilation and Gender Based Violence in the political discourse

On June 20, 2025, the End FGM European Network held its annual Knowledge Sharing Event (KSE) in Brussels, Belgium, the day after its General Assembly taking the opportunity of having our members present in person.

The event was organised by the End FGM European Network Secretariat, building on previous successful editions hosted by Médicos del Mundo (2023) and TERRE DES FEMMES (2024). The participatory approach adopted in recent years continues to prove essential in creating a dynamic and engaged Network.

With the current context in mind, our Policy and Advocacy team based on the request of the membership decided that this year's KSE would focus on how to help counter the instrumentalisation of FGM and GBV in political discourse.

In this political climate where misogynistic, racist, anti-migrant and anti-rights rhetoric are becoming more mainstream and institutionalised, this year’s KSE aimed to foster the exchange of knowledge and best practices across members to build a coordinated response to the manipulation of women’s rights, especially in regards of FGM by conservative and far-right actors and parties in political and media spaces.

Understanding the context: the rise of polarisation in the European landscape

The day opened with a plenary session led by Xheni Dani and Nejma Sayeh from the End FGM European Network’s Policy and Advocacy Team. They laid out the current socio-political environment: a rise in far-right populism, the weaponisation of “gender ideology,” and the false dichotomy between “European values” and migration. Key examples included discriminatory parliamentary motions and social media narratives framing migration as a threat to women’s rights.

Participants were shown how seemingly isolated incidents, whether from political speeches, legislation, or online discourse, are interconnected in a wider anti-rights trend. One clear example was a motion in the European Parliament associating FGM with uncontrolled immigration and calling for punitive expulsion measures, thereby undermining both the lived realities of survivors and the human rights framework protecting them.

Sharing voices from the Network

Following the introductory session, members shared their national-level experiences in addressing similar challenges. Steph Florquin from Equipop highlighted the trickle-down effect of anti-rights rhetoric in France, noting how even traditionally progressive parties are adopting more exclusionary language. Meanwhile, Valentina Fanelli from AIDOS Italy shared alarming examples of anti-feminist visuals in schools and political misuse of feminist language to promote xenophobia.

The insights reinforced the importance of the words we choose, the need for a collective vocabulary and strategy, language that resists manipulation while affirming survivors’ voices and lived experiences.

Turning Reflection into Action

The afternoon sessions focused on practical exercises in small groups. Participants worked on simulated responses to real-life social media posts and political speeches that exploit FGM to serve broader anti-migrant or anti-gender agendas. These discussions culminated in recommendations to improve internal and external communications and prioritise inclusive and intersectional messaging.

A Call for Coordinated Advocacy

The KSE concluded with the presentation of outcomes and next steps. A key takeaway was the importance of advancing advocacy rooted in feminist, decolonial, and intersectional principles. This year’s event reinforced a harsh truth: none of our rights are guaranteed. But it also illuminated a powerful reality, that united and informed, organisations and activists can resist the co-optation of human rights and reclaim the narrative around FGM and GBV.  The collective reflections and tools shared during the KSE will serve as a vital compass in navigating this complex landscape of uncertainty, where the rights of everyone are at stake. We would like to thank all the members that attended the annual KSE for their expertise, reinforcing the common commitment to end FGM and GBV while further strengthen the rights of women and girls in Europe.