Date & Location:

February 6th, 2025, European Parliament- Belgium

Partners/Stakeholders Involved:

• Y-ACT (Youth in Action)
• Amref Health Africa – Italia
• End FGM Network
• European and African Activists

Summary:

On February 6th, 2025, we marked the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) at the European Parliament with a powerful advocacy event under the theme SpeakUP for a Future Without FGM. Y-ACT joined European and African activists to engage in insightful dialogues on the pathways to ending FGM. The focus was on raising awareness, sharing strategies, and exploring actionable steps for policy change. A special mention goes to Amref Health Africa—Italia for leading this advocacy event. The project implemented in Italy showcased the adoption of Y-ACT’s models. These models were used to equip youth leaders from migrant communities in Italy with the tools to advocate for changes in policy and practice and raise evidence-based awareness. The event highlighted the importance of youth engagement in the fight against FGM and reinforced the Unite2endFGM campaign as a collective movement to eradicate this harmful practice.

Key Outcomes/Impact Points:

1. Strengthened dialogue between European and African activists on FGM advocacy
2. Empowered youth leaders from migrant communities in Italy to push for policy change
3. Raised awareness of FGM through evidence-based discussions and advocacy
4. Reinforced the Unite2endFGM campaign and youth-driven solutions to combat FGM
5. Highlighted the role of youth in driving social change and policy reform

Tags:

Policy Dialogue, Advocacy Event, Youth Leadership, FGM Awareness, Migrant Communities, Social Change