EIGE publishes a report about the girls at risk of FGM in four European countries

28/07/2021

FGM is nowadays in diaspora, practised in almost all the countries of the world. Its prevalence is calculated in 27 countries of sub-Saharan Africa, Iraq, Yemen and Indonesia, although it is also documented in other parts of the world. In Europe, there are different studies that estimate the possible number of girls at risk to suffer it, but it is difficult to find systematic registers. In Spain, demographic maps elaborated by Adriana Kaplan and Antonio López stand out, being actualized every four years and available on the website of Wassu-UAB Foundation.

Report results: two risk scenarios

The recent report published by EIGE also show off for its usefulness and importance, spreading the reality of FGM in the European context. The study takes into account the most recent migratory patterns in four countries where the research has been carried out, to present two types of scenarios: the high-risk one, in which it is assumed that the migratory process has not had an impact on family disposition regarding the continuity of the practice; and the low-risk one, in which it is presumed that the acculturation process generates changes in the expected prevalence in the first and second generations of migrants.

The main results show how the increase of the migrant populations with origins in countries where FGM is practised, has been translated in a growth of the number of girls at risk of suffering FGM, despite a larger predisposition of the community against the practice.

Legislation and policies in Europe

Additionally, the legislation and policies related to the subject are also analysed, sharing some recommendations for all the EU member states, in order to end the practice on the continent. Mainly, they highlight the importance of offering specialized training to all the professionals who work with the affected communities, especially in the areas of health, education, law, asylum and migration, so that they are able to conduct an adequate, holistic and respectful approach. Furthermore, states are also encouraged to implement case registration systems that allow gathering reliable information on the number of families served by the different public services; invest resources in awareness campaigns for the population and communities; and recognize FGM as a form of gender-based violence in asylum programs.

Wassu-UAB Foundation has led the research in Spain and has participated in the preparation of this report, analysing the data from the 2018 registry, as well as updating the legislative framework and public policies related to FGM in Spain. We continue with the commitment to generate quality scientific knowledge that allows us to better understand and thus develop good practices in the intervention.

For more detailed information about the situation in Spain, please consult the report prepared by the Wassu-UAB Foundation for the Government Delegation against Gender Violence in 2020.