Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A new female genital mutilation (FGM) victim care centre will open in Antwerp, which will increase care availability after Ghent and Brussels start their service. The initiative targets the needs of more than 35,000 women with FGM in Belgium and provides medical rehabilitation and preventative actions within at-risk populations.
The upcoming federal government agreement has identified Antwerp as the location for a specialised FGM care centre. The new plan focuses on expanding operations of FGM care centres beyond their current locations in Ghent and Brussels. The government shows its dedication to fighting domestic and sexual violence by expanding specialised facilities to both Antwerp and Liège.
Katrien De Koster from GAMS, an advocacy group against FGM, welcomed the news, stating, “That’s good news,” while emphasising the importance of prevention alongside acute care services. The Antwerp facility will offer FGM victims medical treatment along with surgical reconstruction services.
According to GAMS, prevention needs to be prioritised even though it maintains its importance.
Such centres are very useful for dealing with complications or for performing reconstructive procedures, but at GAMS we also focus very much on prevention,
said De Koster.
Prevention work targets Eritrean Bur, Chinese Som, Ali, and Indonesian communities that experience the highest rates of FGM. The expansion demonstrates substantial progress in caring for the more than 35,000 Belgian women who have experienced FGM.
The group collaborates with communities whose members represent most FGM victims for prevention efforts.
At GAMS, people often come from Eritrea, Burkina Faso or Somalia,
says De Koster.
In Flanders, there is also a large group from Indonesia that we must continue to raise awareness of.
In Belgium, more than 35,000 women are involved in genital mutilation.
In addition to awareness and prevention, it is also important to think about long-term care.
A care centre like this is mainly intended to deal with acute issues in the short term,
says De Koster.
We provide long-term support to victims, and that is really necessary for such a complex problem as female genital mutilation.
At GAMS, victims can join discussion groups. People with similar stories are brought together in these groups.
That way, they realize that they are not alone in their story. And then we can support them professionally. The success of the care centres is closely linked to our work.
What is the context of FGM in Belgium?
The practice of female genital mutilation continues to affect Belgian society despite authorities making it unlawful in 2001. According to GAMS research, Belgium has 23,000 women who have endured FGM, while 12,000 girls exist in danger of the practice due to a lack of protection programs.
Flanders stands as the leading region for FGM practice, especially within Antwerp and Liège. The harmful cultural tradition primarily affects community members from Eritrea, Burkina Faso, Somalia and Indonesia.
FGM causes numerous damaged body functions and mental disorders, which produce both persistent pain and infections and problems with childbearing and childbirth complications. Belgian law defines FGM as gender-based violence and child abuse.
In response to these challenges, Belgium has implemented multisectoral strategies since 2009 under frameworks like “Concerted Strategies for Fighting Female Genital Mutilation.” The nation operates awareness educational activities, community-based programs, and educational courses for professionals.
The upcoming Antwerp centre matches Belgium’s national program to combat violence against women and girls. The plan utilises education alongside healthcare initiatives to stop FGM, and it gives professionals the Protection Toolkit as a prevention tool. The toolkit contains multiple resources, including risk assessment scales, that are collectively designed to fight against FGM throughout the country.
