From Dakar to Pamplona, the European Generation Z is determined to break free from female genital mutilation

Monday, Nov 10, 2025

Mutilation Genital Female is a human rights violation, with ongoing issues in Europe regarding healthcare and legal responses for survivors.

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

The text details the severe impact and ongoing issues surrounding Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). It recounts the traumatic experience of Ayan, who underwent FGM at age eight and later faced further abuse after being forced into marriage as a Somali refugee in Ireland. Currently, despite estimates suggesting hundreds of thousands of women in Europe have suffered from FGM, access to specialized medical care is severely limited; for instance, in Ireland, there is only one clinic with long waiting lists. Activists note that while public awareness has increased, barriers like language and treatment wait times persist. FGM, defined as the partial or total removal of external female genitalia, is recognized globally as a human rights violation, practiced in various parts of Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. Several European countries have legislation criminalizing FGM, with Spain having protocols for extraterritorial prosecution since 2005. Efforts are being made by organizations like Médicos del Mundo to raise awareness and support survivors, while younger generations are actively campaigning against the practice.


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