Female genital mutilation is the cutting and/or removal of female external genitals or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical purpose. It is recognised as a human rights violation that can amount to torture.
In Europe there are an estimated 500,000 girls and women suffering from the lifelong consequences of FGM. Another 180,000 girls and women are at risk of this practice each year.
Each one of the five stories below shows the challenges faced by women and girls affected by FGM. Each story also shows the EU’s role in ending this human rights violation.