Female genital mutilation in Europe: figures, laws, and challenges

Sunday, Sep 28, 2025

Il Sole 24 Ore

Female genital mutilation affects hundreds of thousands of women in Europe; detection and prosecution remain challenging despite laws.

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[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

Female genital mutilation (FGM), a human rights violation prevalent in parts of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, has reached Europe primarily through migration. The increasing presence of communities from FGM-practicing countries has drawn more institutional attention but also presents significant challenges for detection, prevention, victim protection, and punishing perpetrators. Estimates suggest around 600,000 women and girls in Europe live with the consequences of FGM, while another 190,000 are considered at risk.

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