against FGM
Our impact
Over the past 5 years (2019-2023), GAMS Belgium has:
girls registered at GAMS Belgium for protection from female genital mutilation (FGM).
girls and women who have already undergone FGM received psycho-social support.
professionals trained in the sectors of asylum, healthcare, social work, justice, and education.
men accompanied by GAMS Belgium.
SINCE ITS CREATION IN 1996, GAMS BELGIUM HAS CONTRIBUTED
- To the enactment of specific legislation in 2000 to protect girls from female genital mutilation (FGM) and punish perpetrators.
- To advocacy efforts with the government to recognize FGM as persecution under the Geneva Convention and qualify for international protection. Today, over 2,000 girls have obtained refugee status based on the risk of FGM.
- To the introduction, for the first time, of the issue of FGM in the National Action Plan (NAP) to combat violence from 2011-2015. Since then, FGM has always been included in the Violence NAPs.
- To advocacy for the creation of two multidisciplinary centers for the care of excised women (including clitoral re-exposure). Advocacy began in June 2008 with Minister of Health Mrs. Onkelinx, and the two centers (CHU St-Pierre and UZ Gent) were established in 2014.
- To the creation of an FGM trajectory within the asylum seekers’ reception network coordinated by Fedasil since 2017.
- To the training of FGM relay midwives in hospitals and FGM referents at the SAJ (Youth Aid Service) in Brussels.
- To the training of peer educators to raise awareness among affected communities and support women in their endeavors since 2012. To date, over 100 peer educators have been trained in various sessions.
AWARDS AND LABELS OBTAINED BY GAMS:
- 2005: Khadidiatou Diallo, founder of GAMS, was named Woman of the Year (Marie Popelin Prize) by the Council of French-Speaking Women of Belgium (CFFB).
- 2007: GAMS Belgium received the Micheline Van Caillie-Bertrand Prize from the Medical Women’s Association of Belgium in November.
- 2015: Halimatou Barry, coordinator of GAMS activities in Wallonia, was awarded the Talon Wallon by the Parliament of Wallonia.
- 2017: Jeanne Van Quickenborne Prize for its Digital Storytelling project.
- 2017: Khadidiatou Diallo was elected as the Godmother of the Institute for the Equality of Women and Men (IEFH) on the occasion of its 15th anniversary.
- 2020: Winner of the Venture Philanthropy Fund.
