FGM victims across Europe face long delays for care, under-resourced services, and rare prosecutions despite laws.
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Thousands of women and girls across Europe who have experienced Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) face significant delays and inadequate care despite strong legal frameworks. Investigations reveal that specialist health services are under-resourced, perpetrator prosecutions are infrequent, and national data is often missing or outdated. In countries like Ireland, demand for the sole FGM clinic has surged by 330%, leading to waiting times exceeding a year, with similar issues noted in Spain, France, and Austria. While estimates suggest hundreds of thousands are affected across the EU, accurate figures are elusive due to data gaps. Grassroots organizations are often filling critical support and medical voids when state services fail, though these efforts rely heavily on limited funding. Furthermore, despite criminalization, FGM convictions remain rare in many member states, leading campaigners to call for greater focus on accountability, healing, and survivor support alongside legal action.
