Female genital mutilation is a grave violation of human rights. It is a tool of control, and oppression inflicted on women and girls. There is no medical, cultural, or ethical justification for it. It must be eradicated.
More than 200 million women and girls worldwide are still affected by this practice, including at least 600,000 living in Europe. Ending this practice is essential to eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls and to fulfilling the European Union's commitment to gender equality. Just last week at the Foreign Affairs Council , the EU reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating all gender inequalities and forms of sexual and gender-based violence.
The EU has already taken important steps towards this aim. The 2024 EU Directive on combating violence against woman and domestic violence requires Members States to criminalise female genital mutilation as a stand-alone crime, strengthen prevention, improve support for survivors, and enhance data collection.
Abolishing this form of violence requires sustained and coordinated action at global, national and local levels. This is why the EU is investing in awareness campaigns, community engagement, and partnerships with international organisations to confront the harmful social norms that allow female genital mutilation to persist.
Since 2016, cooperation with United Nations agencies, including UNFPA and UNICEF, and particularly through the Spotlight Initiative , has helped protect women and girls at risk and drive change within communities.
Social norms can evolve and human rights can be protected. The EU will not relent in its efforts to eradicate female genital mutilation worldwide until every woman and every girl can live a free, safe, and dignified life.
Background
Female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures involving partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons, as defined by the World Health Organization. It is estimated that 190,000 girls in 17 European countries alone are at risk of being mutilated while 600,000 women are living with the consequences of FGM in Europe.
Efforts to combat FGM form part of the EU's broader commitment to ending all forms of gender-based violence and promoting equality, justice, and protection for all women and girls. The European Union has established a comprehensive legal and policy framework to prevent and combat FGM. In 2021, the Commission adopted a comprehensive EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child , followed by the 2024 Recommendation on developing and strengthening integrated child protection systems in the best interests of the child , both of which pay particular attention to girls affected or at risk of FGM .
Criminalisation of FGM is required under the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence , also known as the Istanbul Convention, to which the European Union acceded in 2023. Furthermore, in May 2024, the European Union adopted the Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence which requires the criminalisation of FGM as a self-standing offence.
Our commitment to eradicating all forms of gender-based violence extends beyond borders, as outlined in the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024 , the EU Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025 , the EU Gender Action Plan III , extended until 2027. Since 2017, the EU has supported the Spotlight Initiative , a UN initiative to end violence against women and girls. The EU continues to work with global partners to prevent FGM, raise awareness, and promote community-led solutions.
The Commission works to combat all forms of gender-based violence through funding programmes such as Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV). Through its DAPHNE strand, the Commission allocated €23 million in 2025 to projects combating and preventing gender-based violence and violence against children.
In addition, since March 2023, national authorities have been able to enter alerts in the Schengen Information System concerning children and vulnerable adults who are at risk of gender-based violence, including female genital mutilation. The EU also supports training for national authorities and awareness-raising for communities at risk to prevent FGM and ensure survivors receive adequate support.
