Activists Against FGM Speak at the European Parliament

22/04/2025

Representing the FAS were cooperation officer Rosana Carvalho and young activists Àngela Reyes, Gal·la Gavilan (both UAB students), and Bintou Mballo (actress and activist). Together, they have led awareness campaigns on campus and in the wider community.

The closing event brought together political representatives, international organisations and women's networks who are committed to this cause. The main objective was to present the conclusions drawn from two years of awareness-raising, training and advocacy work aimed at preventing and eradicating FGM. Various strategies and proposals were highlighted to strengthen the fight against FGM at the European level.

The day began with opening speeches by Members of the European Parliament Alessandra Moretti (Democratic Party, Italy, and event host), Hélène Fritzon (Swedish Social Democratic Party) and Carolina Morace (Five Star Movement, Italy), as well as representatives from civil society organisations including the End FGM European Network, ActionAid, Diaspora Vote and AEGEE Brussels. This was followed by partner organisations presenting their action plans, including Fundazione Alberto della Vita (Italy), Himilio (the Netherlands), Akidwa (Ireland), the Portuguese Association for Family Planning (APF), and the Autonomic Solidarity Foundation (FAS). The FAS has led initiatives involving UAB students, faculty, organisational staff, local youth, activists from communities affected by FGM, and organisations combatting the practice.

During the FAS presentation, the importance of recognising FGM as a global issue was underscored, along with the need to centre the leadership of women from affected communities:

“We have a responsibility to constantly ask ourselves how we should take part in this movement, ensuring we are not occupying spaces that do not belong to us. Women from affected communities must be the leaders — their voices must be heard, and their experiences considered. We believe this is the only way to have a meaningful and ethical impact.”— Àngela Reyes, Bintou Mballo and Gal·la Gavilan, youth change-makers from the CHAT Plus project.

The young activists described their involvement in the project, from attending informative sessions to creating communication materials such as a comic book and a social media video. They also called for financial resources to be allocated to ensure effective youth participation in social initiatives like this one.

Rosana Carvalho also presented the conclusions drawn from work in Catalonia and Spain, expressing deep concern over the near-total lack of training on FGM among future professionals in education, social care, and healthcare.

One of the FAS's main actions has been the development of a Training and Awareness Guide on FGM. There was also an emphasis on the need to strengthen research to provide evidence-based responses, as well as on the importance of addressing FGM from an anti-racist, decolonial and feminist perspective.

“The fight against FGM must not be used as an excuse to reproduce racism or criminalise migrant communities. We have a long road ahead, and we will only achieve our goals if we genuinely incorporate anti-racist and decolonial feminism.”
— Rosana Carvalho, Cooperation and Global Justice Education Officer at the FAS.

The closing event of the CHAT Plus project marked a major milestone after two years of committed, collaborative work to end FGM in Europe. The conclusions and proposals presented at the event define a roadmap for continued action in prevention, victim support, and awareness, with a clear focus on human rights, racial justice, and gender equality.