Improving FGM-law enforcement in Europe: dissemination of lessons learned and capacity building of actors in (para)legal field

OBJECTIVES

Main objective:

To enhance the implementation of criminal and child protection laws on FGM in the EU

Specific objectives:

To update, expand and disseminate the review of these laws in Europe (through a questionnaire);
To build the capacities in FGM law enforcement for professionals in 5 EU countries (through workshops);
To propose a framework for FGM laws in the EU (through steering committee meeting and conference);
To formulate practical recommendations for an enhanced implementation of these laws;
To disseminate recommendations regarding their enforcement (through conference, website and leaflet).

METHODS

Capacity building: 2 training workshops in 5 countries (Belgium, France, Spain, Sweden, UK) for the following stakeholders: child protection officers, social workers, police, prosecutors, and others, on law enforcement.
Research: An already tested questionnaire on FGM laws will be sent to 3 key persons in 25 EU members states

ACTIVITIES

Compilation of an update of FGM laws in 15 member states and review of laws in 10 new member states
Development of user-friendly webtool on fgm criminal and child protection laws in Europe
Organisation of two capacity-building workshops for child protection officers, police officers, prosecutors, social workers and others in 5 countries, focusing on criminal laws and child protection laws, difficulties in their enforcement and how to overcome these, experiences of the actors with implementing these laws
Publication of recommendations on law enforcement in leaflet in French, Swedish, English, Dutch and Spanish;
Proposing a directive/framework for FGM criminal laws and child protection laws in EU,
Organisation of a final conference;
Writing paper(s) in scientific journal(s)

EXPECTED RESULTS

An updated review of criminal laws and child protection laws on FGM of 25 EU member states;
User-friendly webtool on these FGM laws in Europe;
Capacity-building workshop in 5 countries;
Leaflet with list of recommendations for better law enforcement;
Proposed directive/framework for FGM laws in EU;
Paper(s) in scientific journal(s).