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In Belgium, FGM primarily affects women and girls who have been subjected to excision or infibulation, or who are at risk of these practices. These are women originally from several countries in sub-Saharan Africa and from the Arabian Peninsula, and to a lesser extent from the Middle-East, Asia and Latin America. FGM has direct and indirect repercussions for the health, sexuality and mental health of these women and girls.
Secondly, males and other members of the family and the community also suffer the consequences of FGM (health problems, death, sexual problems, relationship problems for the couple and the family, stigmatisation, etc.).
In the case of migrant women, FGM is a further source of vulnerability. In the context of migration, girls risk excision and infibulation in the host country as well as while visiting their country of origin.
FGM is a violation of human rights in terms of both physical and mental health and is also a violation of rights of autonomy.
Because of the lack of data relating to the prevalence and risk of FGM in Belgium it is difficult to add it to the political agenda or to mobilise those concerned.
Objectives, strategies and activities GAMS Belgium 2011-2013 |
