FGM Has No Place in Society: Eradicating it Starts with Leadership

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Today is International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and the European Commission and the High Representative/Vice-President Kallas have reaffirmed the EU’s unwavering commitment to eradicating this cruel and deeply harmful practice, both in Europe and globally.

We remind all leaders and managers in Europe (and elsewhere) that FGM is never acceptable or justifiable, and that it is our duty to prevent it, and to report it if we are aware of it. You can download this helpful factsheet from the EU Commission here.

 

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Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a severe violation of human rights, affecting over 200 million women worldwide, including at least 600,000 in Europe.

Managers and leaders are pivotal in shaping a more inclusive and equitable society. Our influence as leaders extends beyond workplaces, it not only drives societal transformation but also fosters policies and initiatives that combat discrimination and promote human rights.

CEC European Managers, as the organisation representing leaders and managers across the EU, is strongly committed to fostering inclusion and equity through EU projects such as Beyunbi – Beyond Unconscious Bias.

By empowering managers with the tools and awareness needed to lead inclusively, CEC European Managers contributes to a fairer and more just Europe.

To combat FGM, the EU has adopted a Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence, requiring all Member States to:

  • Criminalize FGM as a distinct offense.
  • Implement preventive measures and provide training for health professionals.
  • Offer specialized support services for survivors.
  • Collect and analyze data on reported cases to strengthen enforcement efforts.

Through programs like the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative, launched in 2016, the EU has worked alongside global partners to eradicate FGM and all forms of gender-based violence. A new generation of programs is being launched to sustain these efforts, ensuring progress continues.

 

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The European Commission is also dedicated to protecting children from violence, including FGM. As part of its EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child, the Commission adopted a Recommendation on developing integrated child protection systems on 23 April 2024.

This measure calls on Member States to close the gap between international standards and actionable policies by reinforcing protections for children and ensuring external action aligns with the fight against FGM.

The EU’s accession to the Istanbul Convention in October 2023 further strengthens its legal obligations to combat violence against women. Additionally, the Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence, adopted in May 2024, mandates Member States to criminalize FGM independently and implement national laws by 14 June 2027.

In that regard, CEC European Managers has been engaging in relevant events to tackle equality, diversity and foster policymaking, such as “UNITED FRONT: Mobilising Against Gender-Based Violence and Online Abuse”, that took place in the Microsoft headquarters in Brussels and was organised by European Movement International.

 

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