Female genital mutilation is increasing in EU countries, driven by migration; detection and support remain major challenges.
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Globally, 230 million women live with the consequences of female genital mutilation (FGM). In EU countries, France, Italy, and Germany report the highest numbers, though cases are also expected in Greece and Finland. Despite FGM being banned in the EU, the number of affected women is increasing; estimates rose from half a million in 2015 to 600,000 currently, with 190,000 girls considered at risk in Europe. While traditionally associated with Africa, parts of Asia, and the Middle East, FGM has spread to Europe largely through migration. EU states are increasingly addressing this banned practice through detection, prosecution, prevention, and victim protection. Experts link FGM not only to attempts by patriarchal societies to control female sexuality but also note that many victims undergo the procedure in their country of birth, while “cross-border FGM” occurs when families travel from Europe to Africa or Asia for the procedure despite legal prohibitions. Over the last decade, EU countries have tightened penalties against perpetrators due to increased awareness and pressure, yet significant gaps remain in victim support, including inaccessible healthcare, lack of trained professionals, and language barriers. Many women do not seek help because they do not view FGM as a problem but as part of their cultural or religious identity. While some countries like Austria offer specialized centers, most cases remain hidden; only about three percent of women with suspected FGM are recorded in medical files. Similar issues exist in other Western nations, such as nurses failing to recognize or document FGM in the Netherlands, and a lack of coordination between healthcare providers in Germany. In the Czech Republic, there is little attention paid to the issue, lacking official data or systematic monitoring, which experts suggest may be due to insufficient research rather than the problem’s non-existence.
