End FGM EU’s Feedback to the European Commission on the 2026–2030 EU Anti-Racism Strategy
On 18 September 2020, the European Commission published its first EU Anti-Racism Action Plan to strengthen efforts against racism and racial discrimination across the Union. As this initial plan concludes, the Commission is now preparing a new strategy for the 2026–2030 period. In response, the advocacy team at the End FGM European Network has reviewed the proposed direction and submitted comprehensive feedback to ensure that the voices of FGM survivors are heard and meaningfully included.
As the current EU Anti-Racism Action Plan nears its end, racism and discrimination remain deeply rooted in European societies, if not growing more pronounced. The Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA), in its 2024 annual report, states that “Racism, discrimination, bias-motivated harassment and hate crime are a daily reality for many people. Inequality continues to disadvantage people of various ethnic backgrounds and religions.”
This bleak reality testifies to the urgency for EU and all Member States to be determined in seriously address the root causes of structural racism and discrimination and have in place effective measures for their uprooting. This challenge demands a bold, intersectional strategy in the EU’s upcoming 2026–2030 Anti-Racism Strategy.
Racism impacts FGM survivors through limited access to essential services (healthcare, education, housing, and social support), harmful stereotypes, and institutional barriers that force them to repeatedly prove their trauma and need for protection. To learn more, discover our position paper on "FGM, Antiracism & Intersectionality".
Prejudices lead to racial profiling and harmful stereotypes. Institutional barriers force survivors to continually justify their trauma to receive basic protection. The current political shifts across the EU and within the European Parliament have exacerbated the polarisation of political discourse and are leading to a normalised instrumentalisation of female genital mutilation to feed racist, anti-migrant, islamophobic and xenophobic narratives that can amount to hate speech. This is unacceptable and should be countered with determination.
For the next EU Anti-Racism Strategy to be truly effective, End FGM EU emphasises the urgent need for an intersectional approach. This is essential to fully understand and address the unique challenges faced by racialised individuals and FGM-affected communities. Recognising the expertise of those with lived experience must be a cornerstone of the strategy. We must actively promote community engagement and establish concrete mechanisms to ensure meaningful participation. Our advocacy team has identified 18 key recommendations to shape a more inclusive, just, and impactful anti-racism strategy in the EU.
