Belgium

 

Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) may occur amongst members of migrant communities in Belgium, even though it is considered a non-practising country.

According to a report by the European Institute for Gender Equality, FGM/C is banned by Article 409 of the Penal Code. The report notes that to perform, participate, facilitate and  attempt to perform FGM/C are considered an offence. If committed on an underage girl, the offence will carry a more severe penalty. The law against FGM/C applies extraterritorially.

Belgium ratified the ICESCR in 1983, CEDAW in 1985 and the CRC in 1991. Belgium has signed, but not ratified the Istanbul Convention. For Belgian case law concerning FGM/C please see our Case Law page.

 

Anti-FGM/C Organisations in Belgium

GAMS Belgique asbl (Groupe pour l’Abolition des Mutilations Sexuelles féminines)

Rue Gabrielle Petit, 6 1080 Molenbeek
Tel.: +32 (0)2 219 43 40
Email: info@gams.be
 

GAMS Belguim organises activities to raise awareness among communities, briefings and training for professionals, as well as advocacy at national and international level for the abolition of FGM/C. GAMS supports  mutilation by guiding them to health and legal aid services. Moreover, it offers individual psychological counselling and group workshops. 

Intact

Rue Des Palais, 154, 1030 Brussels
Tel.: +32 (0)2 539 02 04, +32(0) 497 55 04 56 (Dutch), +32(0) 479 67 19 46 (French)
Email: contact@intact-association.org
 

The non-profit organisation Intact aims at becoming a ‘place of reference’ for legal issues related to FGM/C. It takes legal action to combat the practice of FGM/C and specially with the purpose of supporting individuals and professionals in legal or judicial proceedings (legal, judicial consultations, follow-up of applications for asylum, support for professionals confronted with child victims or children at risk, organisation of training/symposium on FGM).

No Peace Without Justice – Gender and Human Rights Program

Rue du Pépin 54, B‑1000 Brussels
Tel.: +32 (0)2 5483910
Email: fgm@npwj.org
 
No Peace Without Justice works with women’s rights activists across the world to target FGM and other forms of violence committed against women that are primarily being addressed as cultural issues, rather than as human rights violations. In addition to female genital mutilation (FGM), among the other forms of violence against women it is fundamental to mention forced marriage, marital rape, denial of reproductive rights, and other violations against women. For these violations, specific and effective legislative measures are needed to provide legitimacy, protection and essential legal tools both to women’s rights advocates working to turn the tide of social norms, and to victims and potential victims resisting societal expectations to be silent and acquiesce.

 

 

 

We have no FGM Lawyer for Belgium, but would welcome suggestions. Please contact us.