EU reaffirms commitment to eradicating FGM in annual Human Rights report
On April 2, 2025, the European Parliament adopted its annual report on human rights and democracy, emphasising the need for the EU to continue defending universal democratic values and principles.
The report raises concerns about the rise of authoritarianism, threats to independent media, and the shrinking space for civil society worldwide. It also underscores the urgency of protecting women's rights, which are increasingly under threat globally.
It recommends increasing resources for the EU’s Special Representative for Human Rights and calls for closer collaboration between European institutions and member states to promote and defend human rights. The Parliament also advocates for stronger support to civil society organisations and human rights defenders, recognising their vital role in fostering democracy and safeguarding fundamental freedoms.
Importantly, the End FGM European Network (End FGM EU) welcomes the report's explicit mention of“calls for the EU and its Member States to uphold sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) as human rights and (...) prioritise access to SRHR in order to advance human rights and sustainable development goals; strongly deplores cases of female genital mutilation” and “stresses the need to pursue efforts to fully eradicate the practice of female genital mutilation.”
In alignment with these recommendations, End FGM EU continues its dedicated work to eradicate female genital mutilation and uphold women’s rights. In 2025, End FGM EU launched the #Invest2PreventFGM campaign, advocating for increased investment in prevention, education, survivor protection, and support services to eliminate this harmful practice.
Read the Human Rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter - annual report 2024
Copyright: © European Union 2020 - Source : EP