Development of a European E-LEARNING PORTAL for professionals dealing with FGM

24/03/2023

The Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies (Cyprus), the End FGM European Network, AIDOS Italy, APF (Portugal), and Gams Belgium have secured EU funding for €718,000 to implement the third cycle of “END FGM E-CAMPUS: E-Learning Portal for Professionals to End FGM in Europe”.

The Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (the Istanbul Convention) defines female genital mutilation (FGM) as a form of gender-based violence that can detrimentally affect the mental and physical health of women and girls in the long term. Comprehensive and systematic training and education for professionals on FGM in Europe are more urgent than ever, as only three EU countries have integrated such training into their national curricula.

The "END FGM E-CAMPUS" project will develop an online learning and information platform for FGM. The platform will target professionals across fields and sectors such as healthcare, asylum, social welfare, law enforcement/police, education and civil society to provide culturally appropriate, specialized support and protection to women and girls affected by FGM.

‍ A multidisciplinary team of researchers, academics and other experts will implement the programme: the @Mediterranean Institute for Social Gender Studies (MIGS), the @Cyprus University of Technology (CUT/TEPAK), the @European Network END FGM, the Association of Family Planning in Portugal @APF - Associação para o Planeamento da Família, the Italian Organization for Women and Sustainable Development @AIDOS Associazione italiana donne per lo sviluppo and the Group for the Abolition of FGM @GAMS Be in Belgium. The consortium will also work with associate partners such as UNHCR and other national and international agencies/institutions active in the field of FGM.

Snapshot from the first partners’ meeting that took place in Limassol on 10-11 March 2023 under the auspices of the Nursing Department of the Cyprus University of Technology.