Antwerp (Eurotoday 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
Oh fantastic, another shiny new centre to “support” our 35,000 women… because clearly, putting up a sign and calling it “hope” is all it takes, right? 🙄💁♂️ Maybe next we’ll open a café to brew some strong coffee while we chat about prevention—because that’s obviously the real solution! ☕️✨ Oh great, another center for “support” in Antwerp—because clearly, 35,000 women could use a bit more bureaucracy in their lives. 🤦♂️ Just what we needed, more “action” from the government while they sort out their next coffee break! ☕️ Oh, fantastic! Just what Antwerp needed—another facility to remind us that progress sometimes feels like a game of whack-a-mole in reverse. 🎉 Just hope they’ve got enough coffee to keep the discussions going! ☕️💁♂️ Just what we needed, another care center! Because clearly, the solution to a complex issue like FGM is just to open up more doors—who needs prevention when you can just keep adding more medical facilities? 🤷♂️👏 Just what Antwerp needed – another centre for FGM, because who doesn’t love a little extra bureaucracy in their healthcare system? 😂 Bravo to the government for finally pretending to care about the 35,000 women while still making us wonder if prevention is just a fancy word for ‘we’ll get to it someday.’ 🍻 Ankara, Türkiye, July 11, Eurotoday – Turkey Canada global defence bank discussions remain under review as Turkish officials continue evaluating whether to participate in Canada’s proposed Defence, Security and Resilience Bank. Government sources say no final decision has been made, despite Ankara taking part in discussions surrounding the NATO-backed financial initiative. Caracas, Venezuela, July 11, Eurotoday Newspaper – Teen Venezuela quake survivor stories continue to highlight the human cost of the country’s devastating earthquake. One teenage survivor has shared an emotional tribute to the friends she lost, calling them “young forever” as rescue teams, families, and communities continue mourning those killed in the disaster. Sarhan Basem is Eurotoday’s Senior Correspondent to the European Parliament. With a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature, Sarhan brings a unique blend of linguistic finesse and analytical prowess to his reporting. Specializing in foreign affairs, human rights, civil liberties, and security issues, he delves deep into the intricacies of global politics to provide insightful comment
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