Our position
We advocate for a human rights based gender-, age- and culturally-sensitive Common European Asylum System.
We want FGM-affected women girls seeking asylum , their families in fear of persecution due to FGM, and human rights activists speaking out against FGM to receive:
- Respectful treatment within the asylum process;
- The procedural rights guarantees;
- Adequate reception conditions;
- The international protection they are entitled to, without disparities among EU Member States.
What is the current status?
The European Union has competence on asylum matters through the existing Asylum Directives. In 2016, after a couple of years of increased migration flows, which highlighted differences and tensions between EU Member States in implementing those directives, the European Commission proposed a review of the Common European Asylum System with the aim of increasing homogeneity of standards around international protection across Europe. In 2020, a new Pact on Asylum and Migration has been launched.
The process is still ongoing, but so far FGM-affected women and girls are considered as asylum seekers with special needs, therefore entitled to special protection measures.
Our resources
Want to know more? Have a look at our other areas of work: Gender-Based Violence / Children's Rights / FGM as a global issue.
