European Parliament Oral Question with debate to the European Commission on FGM

On the 6 February 2018 the Women and Gender Equality (FEMM) Committee Chair (Ms. Vilija BLINKEVIČIŪTĖ) asked an Oral Question to the European Commissioner for Justice and Consumers Ms. Věra Jourová on the progresses in the implementation of the European Commission Communication “Towards the elimination of female genital mutilation” (2013). The European Parliament in this question specifically called for mainstreaming the work to tackle FGM in all relevant policy areas. This is one of the core requests for which the End FGM European Network has strongly advocated towards the EU institutions, and it is very important that the European Parliament took it onboard as one of its asks.

A plenary debate followed, where several Member of the European Parliament (MEPs) raised their concerns and expressed their recommendations to the European Commission in order to effectively tackle FGM in the European Union and beyond. End FGM EU identified 5 Champions in the 5 main political groups of the European Parliament who delivered messages during the debate stressing the importance of promoting the end of this harmful practice and preventing violence against women and girls. During the debate several MEPs were wearing the t-shirt FGM is #MyIssueToo in support and solidarity with our End FGM EU annual campaign.