Join our CHAIN - to prevent and tackle Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Early and Forced Marriage (EFM) in the European Union

2026-07-22

The Join our CHAIN project is dedicated to the prevention and elimination of the harmful practices of female genital mutilation (FGM) and early and forced marriage (EFM) among affected communities in 3 EU member states (Germany (DE), Italy (IT) and Ireland (IE)) and through the European Network End FGM EU. Both practices are forms of gender-based violence (GBV) that are often intertwined. The project aims to tackle FGM and EFM committed against women and girls through continuous community empowerment, trainings, capacity building of key professionals as well as sensitisation of relevant stakeholders -all promoting a community-based and gender-sensitive approach. Central to the project are representatives of affected communities (trained as Community Trainers (24 in total)) who will sensitise approx. 1.740 community members (through behaviour change activities and community events) and 48 community leaders. In addition, community members are reached through an awareness-raising campaign in DE, IT and IE, developed with the Community Trainers and disseminated through projects own new social media channel. Join our CHAIN also aims at strengthening and expanding the European community network formed during the CHAIN project. A coordinated, quick response to FGM and EFM cases also requires coordinated action between several institutions and stakeholders to provide protection and support for women and girls affected by and/or at risk of FGM/EFM. Therefore, the project focuses on strengthening support measures among 576 key professionals and relevant stakeholders through capacity-building and the promotion of local intervention chains (IC) also via three video tutorials of the model project (DE, IT, IE) enabling exchange of good practices across the EU and disseminated by every partner organisation. Building on the success of the model projects of the CHAIN project for Berlin and Milan, the project puts a focus on continued coordination along the already existing models of ICs, to not only implement and disseminate model projects of ICs in additional regions/states in DE and IT but also develop new IC in a new partner country in IE (Dublin). In total, 3 newly developed ICs will be presented at National Launch Conferences to 210 key professionals and other relevant stakeholders. In addition, three bilateral advocacy meetings and an international conference in Brussels will take place to involve the EU political level in the discourse on FGM and EFM and to introduce community demands and needs.

Germany

2025-12-15