End FGM Campaign

END FGM European Campaign is run by Amnesty International Ireland, in partnership with non-governmental organisations across the European Union and Female Integrity is one of these NGOs.

The campaign aims to ensure that the EU delivers a coherent strategy to prevent young girls and women in Europe from being mutilated and protect those who flee their countries for fear of being mutilated.

The campaign's recommendations

There are five key dimensions of FGM at the EU Level

Data collection

• In line with the FRA:s short-term objectives stated in the strategic plan, we urge it to include FGM in its identification of indicators for service providers regarding children. We also urge it to explore practices and measures that aim to improve the access to health care for female asylum seekers living with FGM. Finally, when analysing good practices that are related to equal access to justice, the Agency should also endeavour to do an assessment of legal remedies available to protect women and girls who are at risk for FGM.
• In line with the EIGE:s objective and tasks as outlined in the Regulation establishing the Institute, we urge it to create methodological tools that can be used for a broad approach to data collection on FGM in Europe resulting in reliable research and statistics.
• We encourage Eurostat to coordinate and support national surveys to assess FGM prevalence in the European Union. Existing surveys such as the DHS and MICS utilised in developing countries could be amended according to the EU context for national statistical agencies to use in the individual Member States.

The health dimension

• In line with the current EU health strategy, it is imperative that the EU takes measures to ensure that women and girls living with FGM can access health care suited to their needs. Failing to do so would be in breach of fundamental values and the EU commitment to women’s health. It would also perpetuate existing inequities in health.
• To support the goal to reduce health inequalities, the Executive Agency for Health and Consumers (EAHC) should launch tenders and commission the design and delivery of targeted training modules for health care professionals that can also be included in the curricula for the education of midwives, gynaecologists and other relevant health care professionals. It should further support holistic projects that aim to give psychological and medical support together with information on rights and legal remedies to FGM victims.
• To combat health inequalities the European Commission (EC) and the EAHC should encourage the exploration of health or cultural mediator projects to promote the access to health care and health literacy among communities affected by the FGM practice. These projects should be developed in collaboration with health care services, community representatives and national asylum and immigration authorities.
• The Social Protection Committee (SPC) should promote the exchange of information and best practice relating to FGM among EU Member States representatives from the health and social services sectors.
• The Open Method of Coordination (OMC) should be used to develop indicators relevant for women and girls living with FGM to assess, monitor and evaluate their access to health care services and the availability of acceptable and good quality health care. It should further promote cooperation between EU Member States to shape targeted policies, guidelines and initiatives that can improve the quality of life and the health of women and girls living with FGM.

Protecting women and girls

• It is imperative that FGM is included in the Stockholm programme and the consequent Action Plan as it relates to several dimensions of the justice and home affairs cooperation in the EU, including asylum, judiciary and police cooperation.
• In accordance with the 2009 EP resolution on FGM, we encourage Europol to "coordinate a meeting of European police forces with a view to intensifying the measures to combat FGM, tackling the issues related to the low reporting rate and the difficulty of finding evidence and testimonies, and taking effective steps to prosecute offenders".
• We encourage Eurojust to host meetings to facilitate information exchange between competent authorities in Member States on best practices with a view to promote the knowledge and expertise in relation to FGM cases, to promote cooperation, and to promote harmonisation and/or development of common standards in relation to FGM related judicial cases.
• We urge the EC and the EU Member States to honour their legally binding commitments to international legislation in relation to FGM. The upcoming Bejing + 15 global review presents an opportune moment for the reiteration of a commitment to eradicate FGM worldwide and we urge the Spanish Presidency of the EU to take a firm lead in this respect.
• We urge the EC to continue making Daphne funding available for projects aiming to combat FGM in Europe. The lessons learned and resulting reports should be disseminated to relevant authorities in EU Member States.

Asylum

• FGM should be an integrated dimension in the work carried out by the European Asylum Support Office, with trainings and information produced and disseminated among Member States to ensure the fair treatment of asylum seekers on grounds of FGM.
• Incorporating the UNCHR guidance note on FGM into the European Asylum Curriculum will make the curriculum reflective of current challenges to the EU Asylum Services and promote a coherent approach to asylum seekers on grounds of FGM that is in line with internationally adopted standards.

We urge the European Forum on the Rights of the Child to include in its meeting agenda the issue of FGM and the role European Institutions can play in combating the practice within the EU as well as worldwide.

EU development cooperation

Actively promoting the eradication of female genital mutilation in EC and EU development cooperation will contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals; it is in line with commitments made by the European Commission and EU Member States to promote and protect children’s rights; and it is in line with commitments made to promoting gender equality and protecting women’s rights in the Treaty, in partnership agreements and in various instruments for EC assistance to developing countries.

• We encourage the EC and the EU Member States to raise the issue of FGM as a clear violation of women’s and girls’ fundamental rights in their political dialogue with third countries and regional bodies.
• We urge the EC to include FGM in the Country Strategy Papers for third countries where FGM is practiced. It should be featured both in targeted programmes for women and girls, and also mainstreamed into relevant policy areas such as health, strengthening and reform of the security sector (police and judiciary), decentralisation programmes and support to civil society.
• To complement the effort of targeting FGM through CSPs, EIDHR grants for macro and micro projects to combat FGM should be launched by DG EuropeAid and EC Delegations.