Female genital mutilation (FGM) encompasses all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia and other injuries to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. FGM is a form of gender-based violence, a violation of human rights and an infringement on women's sexual, mental and physical health.
FGM damages women's health and can even lead to death. Medical complications such as bleeding and infections often occur immediately. FGM also causes psychological trauma in many women, which is detrimental to their self-confidence and hinders their sexual development. In the longer term, recurrent infections, pain and complications during childbirth are frequent complaints associated with female genital mutilation.
UNICEF reports that more than 200 million women worldwide have undergone some form of FGM. The European Parliament estimates that 600,000 women in Europe have been victims of FGM and 180,000 girls in Europe are at risk of being circumcised. According to the Institute for the Equality of Women and Men and the FPS Public Health, it is estimated that more than 93,000 girls and women in Belgium come from a country where FGM is common. Some of them have probably already been circumcised, and without preventive measures, the number of circumcised women will only increase.
Reference Centre FGM UZGent
https://www.uzgent.be/nl/multidisciplinair-centrum-vrouwelijke-genitale-mutilatie
ANSER
The Academic Network for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Policy (ANSER) is a global, multidisciplinary network dedicated to advancing evidence-based SRHR policies.
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Hosted by the International Centre for Reproductive Health (ICRH) at Ghent University, ANSER brings together over 50 member institutions from academia and non-profit organisations to foster collaboration, generate knowledge, and translate research into actionable policy recommendations. By bridging the gap between science and policy, ANSER strengthens SRHR advocacy and decision-making worldwide.
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