End FGM EU Participates in an Exchange of Views on FGM at the European Parliament
On Wednesday, 4 June 2025, the End FGM European Network (End FGM EU) was proud to take part in an exchange of views on the issue of Female Genital Mutilation in the European Union at the European Parliament in Brussels.
The session opened with remarks from Javier Zarzalejos, Chair of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), and Lina Gálvez, Chair of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM). Their welcome messages underscored the political will across sectors to prioritise the elimination of FGM as both a human rights and a gender equality imperative.
End FGM EU interim Director, Marianne Nguena Kana highlighted the journey and role of civil society in addressing FGM. She emphasised that FGM is a global human rights violation rooted in gender inequality and patriarchy. Referencing our Global Report launched in February 2025, she underscored its presence in at least 94 countries, ‘from Colombia to France, Somalia to India. FGM is a worldwide problem and undeniably, a European one too’.
Marianne noted growing challenges, including anti-gender movements, efforts to roll back legal protections (such as in The Gambia), and a dangerous de-prioritisation of gender-based violence issues and sexual and reproductive health and rights. She also cited the urgent need for funding: an estimated $2.3 billion shortfall prevents the effective elimination of FGM worldwide.
At the same time, she underlined that meaningful advances had taken place, particularly in raising awareness, advancing inclusion, and forging strong partnerships with FGM-affected communities. Progress has also been made in improving service provision and securing public funding for the issue, especially through support from the CERV-Daphne funding stream.
Marianne also stressed the importance of maintaining and increasing dedicated funding within the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), as sustainable and long-term investment is crucial to ensure the continuity and impact of efforts to end FGM across Europe and beyond.
She was not the only expert at this exchange. Maria Mollica, Team Leader at the European Commission's Gender Equality Unit, outlined the EU's evolving approach to FGM, tracing progress from the 2013 Communication to the recent inclusion of FGM in the Directive on Violence Against Women. She emphasised the Directive’s potential to enhance both prevention strategies and survivor support mechanisms.
Joining remotely, Anna Rita Manca, Expert on Gender-Based Violence at the European Institute for Gender Equality, contributed key data and analysis that underscored the importance of developing evidence-based and gender-sensitive policy responses.
The MEPs took time to exchange directly with our experts, engaging in a constructive dialogue that reinforced the urgency of continued collaboration between institutions and civil society.
Javier Zarzalejos, Chair of the LIBE Committee, brought the exchange to a close by underscoring the importance of the next steps. He highlighted the need for the European Parliament to pay very special attention to the implementation process of the Directive, ensuring that all Member States align their efforts in preventing and combating FGM. It was a clear signal of continued political commitment and recognition of the need for coordinated action across the EU.