Ending Female Genital Mutilation - A Strategy for the European Union Institutions

Three million girls and women are subjected to female genital mutilation worldwide each year. That's 8000 girls per day.

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a form of violence against women and children that can amount to torture.

The practice violates:

* Right to physical and mental integrity
* Right to highest attainable standard of health
* Right to be free from all forms of discrimination against women (including violence against women)
* Right to freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment
* Rights of the child, and
* in extreme cases, right to life

Female genital mutilation has been documented in certain parts of Africa, Asia and Middle East, and it is now being encountered in Europe as well. Most often, girls and women are taken to their countries of origin during school holidays to be mutilated.

The European Parliament estimates 500,000 girls and women living in Europe are suffering with the lifelong consequences of female genital mutilation.

FGM constitutes a persecution qualifying for being granted refugee status according to the international human rights standards as well as European law. However, because of lack of uniform implementation among all member states of the European Union (EU), women and girls are put at risk of being returned to countries where they could be subjected to FGM.

END FGM European Campaign is run by Amnesty International Ireland, in partnership with non-governmental organisations across the European Union. The campaign is launching a strategy with concrete recommendations for the EU Member States and the EU institutions.

* Read the strategy ENDING FGM: A Strategy for European Union Institutions here

* Find out more about female genital mutilation

* Visit the END FGM campaign website