Brussels, 6 February 2024 (dpa/MIA) - The European Union is marking Tuesday's International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) by reaffirming its condemnation of the practice.

"These procedures do not happen for medical reasons," a statement from the European Commission said on Monday.

"The lives of girls are at risk, their human rights are violated and they suffer lasting physical and psychological trauma. There is simply no justification," the statement added.

The EU is on the verge of finalizing legislation on violence against women that would criminalize FGM specifically as a standalone offence. Representatives of the European Parliament and EU member states are currently negotiating the final law.

An estimated 190,000 girls in 17 European countries are at risk of genital mutilation, according to the commission, which ads that 600,000 women in Europe are living with the consequences of FGM.

The commission adds that at least 20,000 woman and girls per year come to Europe as asylum seekers from countries with a risk of FGM.

Photo: WHO