EU consultation on female genital mutilation

Published: Wednesday, April 03, 2013

The European Commission has launched a consultation obtain your views on how best to develop measures at EU level to fight female genital mutilation.

Female genital mutilation is a specific form of violence against women and girls, involving procedures that include the partial or total removal of the external female genital organs for cultural or other non-therapeutic reasons. It is mostly carried out on young girls between infancy and the age of 15. It is a human rights' violation and a violation of the rights of the child and it has severe short-term and long-term physical and psychological consequences.

Female genital mutilation is practised for various reasons related to religious beliefs, cultural identities, gender roles and social perceptions of sexuality, marriage or health, and is widespread in some specific African, Middle-East and Asian countries. Estimates suggest that hundreds of thousands of women and girls living in Europe have undergone such mutilation and many more are at risk.

The public consultation is open until 30th May 2013. More information is available on the European Commission Website

Also, a call for proposals restricted to Member States on 'Information and communication activities on violence against women' is open until 16 May 2013.