Community Voices in Europe: Riham builds bridges in Italy’s fight against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Riham Ibrahim: a voice for prevention

Riham, 24, originally from Egypt and now living in Italy, Milan, has been involved in anti-FGM activism since her late teens. Her work today focuses on fostering dialogue within at-risk communities at risk and creating safe, supportive spaces where the issue can be discussed openly.

From personal awareness to activism

Her awareness began in Egypt, during a holiday visit, when she discovered that a cousin had “disappeared” from their friend group because she was undergoing the act. That moment left a deep impression on her.

Since then, Riham has worked voluntarily with organisations such as ActionAid, engaging directly with communities and professionals:

“We work with communities, healthcare workers, gynecologists, midwives because you can’t fight this with one approach only. You need everyone involved.”

Barriers and resources

Italy has laws addressing FGM, but Riham points out they are mostly reactive rather than preventive. Many within affected communities remain unaware of these laws unless informed by activists or organisations.

Milan offers legal, medical, and psychological support through NGOs, often with Arabic or Somali interpreters. Yet resources remain limited: 

“We definitely need more interpreters and cultural mediators who understand the context. Also, professionals in reception centers, there’s a shortage now.”

Shame, stigma, and lack of information remain significant barriers for survivors and women at risk to access these services.

Challenges in activism

As a young woman activist, Riham has encountered skepticism from older community members, who sometimes doubt her ability to speak on the subject. Broader political dynamics also play a role: “Some right-wing parties prioritise ‘Italians first’ and dismiss such issues as secondary.”

Still, she believes young people, whether directly affected or not, have an important role to play:

“They may not share my direct experience, but they can learn, take courses, listen to stories. Activism starts with listening.”

Looking forward

Riham’s vision for change is rooted in trust and dialogue:

“We need to build a trusting, non-judgmental environment. Our goal isn’t to preach but to provide tools and information. The choice is always theirs.”

In Europe, the issue of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) has only recently entered the public sphere. It wasn’t until the ratification of the Istanbul Convention in 2014, the Council of Europe’s landmark treaty on preventing and combating violence against women, that FGM was officially recognised as a form of gender-based violence within European borders. But this formal recognition was the result of years of persistent grassroots efforts by survivors, community advocates, and frontline organisations who refused to remain silent.

The Community Voices Project aims to spotlight six of these powerful voices: activists from FGM-affected communities across Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Through their stories, this project wants to spotlight how survivors are influencing policy, reshaping public discourse, and challenging the deeply ingrained social and cultural norms that continue to perpetuate FGM in diaspora communities.

To find out more about the project and the other activists’ journeys, click here!