“One day they come and get you in groups. I was the oldest one. I remember it as if it were yesterday. There were at least six persons on me because I was imploring, I didn’t want to. I was convinced that I would die. I was 9 years old…”, one victim relates. The pain… the horror… more than 200 million females across the world – women, girls, infants alike - have, like this victim, suffered the torture of female genital mutilation, including 500,000 in Europe. The EU is at the forefront of global efforts to end female genital mutilation by 2030. Female genital mutilation is a crime in all EU Member States, and this year we have seen the first convictions of persons that conducted this criminal practice.
On International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, the EU reaffirmed its strong commitment to eradicating worldwide female genital mutilation. "Every girl and woman has the right to live a life free of violence and pain", stated the EU. "Female Genital Mutilation is a severe violation of human rights and of women’s physical integrity. It is a practice that amounts to torture and degrading treatment that cannot be justified. Neither on the basis of custom, nor tradition, culture or religion," the EU stressed.
This traumatic act is usually performed by a family member, a neighbour or even a health professional. Fatima asked her grandmother why they cut girls, and she was told "Because of the men - they want it. Ask your grandfather." But, when she asked him the same question, the reply came back instantly "Don’t ask me – it’s women who want it."
The European Union has supported partner countries in criminalising this harmful practice and is committed to doing even more. Over the past 10 years, the EU has achieved important milestones on this topic.
The EU and the UN have launched the global Spotlight Initiative, which aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, including female genital mutilation, child marriages and other harmful practices against women.